Winner of the first
Montreux Jazz Festival International Piano Solo Competition,
Leo Tardin conceived
Grand Pianoramax as a live keyboards/drums duo with guest MCs/vocalists, blending powerful analog-synth bass lines, syncopated keys, organic drumming and freestyle spoken word improv/rap with occasional vocal guests.
Tailored to explore hybrid stylistic directions in their most essential renditions, Tardin developed the ambitious Grand Pianoramax project by joining forces with first-class NYC drummers Deantoni Parks (Kudu, The Mars Volta, Meshell Ndegeocello), Jojo Mayer, and Adam Deitch (Talib Kweli, John Scofield). To add to the unique sound, Tardin invited in some of the most creative poets/MCs on the scene today, including Americans Mike Ladd, Celena Glenn (Coco Rosie) and Invincible (Platinum Pied Pipers), and French hip-hop/folk artist Spleen.
Primarily a live project, Tardin has performed under the Grand Pianoramax moniker at venues such as Joe’s Pub, Jazz Standard, Nublu, Union Hall, Sirius Satellite Radio (New York), Jazz Café (London),
Moods (Zürich), Le Tryptique (Paris), Quasimodo, Lovelite (Berlin), Galeria ZDB (Lisbon) and at many festivals across Europe and the US.
Tardin, a native of Geneva, Switzerland, has been based in New York since his graduation from the New School University in 2000. He has performed and recorded with legendary jazz musicians Roy Ayers, Frank Morgan, Toots Thielemans, Charles Tolliver, Dave Liebman, Enrico Rava and Erik Truffaz, and co-led a quartet with harmonica phenomenon Grégoire Maret in his late teens.
Always one for exploration and mixing different musical genres, Tardin has performed with Orient Expressions in Istanbul, a Turkish ensemble blending traditional Anatolian music with electronica. He also regularly performs with Portuguese singer Paula Oliveira, with whom he recorded two highly successful albums of Portuguese traditional and revolution-era songs for Universal Music. This collaboration led to extensive tours throughout Southern Europe and frequent stays in Lisbon, a city for which he’s developed a strong fascination.
Grand Pianoramax’s latest album, The Biggest Piano In Town, will be released worldwide by ObliqSound starting in February 2008. Tardin and company will tour North America and Europe with
live shows, including selected dates in February/March 2008 opening on tour for jazz/funk legend Maceo Parker. DJ Spinna’s remix of the album’s first single “The Hook” is due out in spring 2008.
Grand Pianoramax’s first CD, the self-titled Grand Pianoramax, was released worldwide in 2005 by ObliqSound. The album sold more than 43,000 downloads via iTunes USA and generated top-notch reviews from both sides of the Atlantic, including high marks from press outlets such as Billboard, BPM, Vibrations, De:Bug Germany and Jazz UK, among others. The "Starlite" single was also released in 2005, featuring remixes by Nuspirit Helsinki and Domu, and frequently appeared on the playlists of tastemakers like Laurent Garnier, Rainer Trüby, Mr Scruff, Patrick Forge, and Osunlade.
