French Connect Songs Trio

The French Connect Songs Trio offers a subtle and refreshing jazz take on the great standards of French chanson. Without straying too far from the original melodies, the trio infuses each piece with swing, groove, and improvisation, while preserving the poetic essence of the lyrics. From Brel to Brassens, Henri Salvador, Le Forestier, Cabrel, Lavilliers and Bashung – each song is revisited with elegance and sensitivity. Their musical world is both accessible and refined, familiar yet surprising: not too jazzy for chanson fans, nor too soft for jazz lovers. The result? A warm, sunlit musical journey, filled with nostalgia and carried by genuine on-stage chemistry.

The trio unites three artists with rich and complementary backgrounds. Max, a self-taught singer and guitarist, co-founded the band “Citizen Jane” in the 1990s. His warm voice and heartfelt delivery lie at the core of the project. He is joined by Wynand Mawet, a classically trained guitarist (holder of two master’s degrees, 2012), passionate about jazz, gypsy jazz, and world music, which he explores with great finesse. Lastly, Hakim Talbi, a versatile double bassist and pianist trained at the Mons Conservatory, moves freely between classical, jazz, world music and pop. Together, they create a distinctive, balanced and deeply human sound.