Since 1967, the Workshop de Lyon has been singing, inventing, revisiting, twisting, roaring, dismantling, reconstructing, disassembling, innovating, exploring... improvising its music. Dozens of tracks, hundreds of concerts, tours worldwide, musical encounters, long-term or episodic projects... and albums:

• "Inter fréquences" (1973)
• "Transit" (Colette Magny) (1975)
• "La chasse de Shirah Sharibad" (1975)
• "Mirobolis" (Steve Waring) (1975)
• "Tiens les bourgeons éclatent" (1977)
• "Concert lave" (1981)
• "Musique basalte" (1981)
• "Anniversaire" (1987)
• "Fondus" (1997)
• "Chant bien fatal" (1991)
• "Côté rue" (1998)
• "Les chants d’Edith" (2002)
• "Lighting up" (2005)
• "Slogan" (2007)
• "Lettres à des amis lointains" (2014)

The AABA of the Workshop de Lyon

The Workshop de Lyon is above all about sound. The ensemble has almost always consisted of two wind instruments, bass, and drums. While the wind players have changed, not so often, the sound remains that of the group and is recognizable above all, its identity, its DNA.

50 years of the Workshop de Lyon condensed into one piece of music
Intro, there’s often an intro. Bolcato and Guyon are in charge. Mereu, Merle, and Vollat improvise initial bursts and clusters. Discreetly, Rollet takes over from Guyon, and the whole team dives into a first lively A. For the reprise, Vollat and Mereu step aside, Sclavis joins Merle, and they deliver a lyrical interpretation. As soon as Louis finishes this passage, Autin joins Merle for an emotional B, where the two sounds combine into one. When the A returns, Aussanaire replaces Merle and integrates into the distinctive sound of the WdL, two reeds, bass, drums. The orchestra is there, identifiable among all, like an old sage celebrating its fifty years.

In 2017, let’s shout it from the rooftops, scream it loud... The Workshop de Lyon celebrates its tour, with founding, occasional, substitute, guest, and new members—all potential partners for the 50th anniversary of this extraordinary group.

With a few of the iconic pieces: "Chant bien fatal," "Anniversaire," "Marcello," "Doppo il fulmine," "Moulin noir," ... this program will also reconnect with the fiery improvisations of the "Free jazz workshop de Lyon" from the late 1960s.

Those who have, at some point, permanently or fleetingly crossed paths with the Workshop de Lyon: Louis Sclavis, Patrick Vollat, Jean Mereu, Didier Levallet, Michel Portal, Jean-Luc Cappozzo, Georges Lewis, Jacques Di Donato, François Tusques, Thomas Heberer, Noël Akchoté, Claude Barthélemy, Steve Waring, Yves Robert, Ken Carter, Ernst Reisjeger, Claude Tchamitchian, Thierry Maucci, Patrick Charbonnier, Michel Mandel, Alfred Spirli, Guy Villerd, Red, Richard Raux, Michel Saulnier, Eric Brochard, Paul Vranas, Gershwin Nkosi, François Corneloup, Anna Kupfer... are all potential guests for the 50th Anniversary, Jubilee, Golden Wedding, Half-century... call it whatever you want, it’s the Workshop de Lyon’s half-century celebration.