Celia Kameni & Mark Priore

Introduced to classical piano at the age of 5, Mark Priore fell in love with jazz. He began to study it on his own, eventually entering the CNSM in Paris, from which he graduated with top honors. At the same time, he became a sought-after sideman in Paris and Europe, collaborating with Nguyen Le, Herve Samb, Prabhu Édouard, Baiju Bhatt, Sylvain Gontard and others… He recorded 4 albums, including Robinson Khoury’s “Frame of Mind”, and opened for such prestigious names as Robert Glasper and Bojan Z. He won 1st Prize in the 2014 UDDJ Competition with his first group, Grand Prize in the “Jazz in Baikal” International Duo Competition (Russia), and 2nd Prize in the International Jazz Chorus Piano Competition, of which Martial Solal was Honorary President.
They instantly shared a common palette of expression. This connection gave rise to the desire to pursue this emotional and musical journey together. They compose on the spot, as if drawing with four hands, subtle impressions between jazz, pop and chanson.

Célia Kameni is a French performer and composer, with a conservatory background in classical music and jazz, and a singular voice that combines sensitivity and intensity. In the course of her journey filled with precious encounters, she has recorded numerous albums and featurings, committed to her ability to embrace a very broad musical spectrum, while bringing her own unique emotion to it. The Amazing Keystone Big band of which she is a member wins a Victoire du jazz award in 2018, and in 2022 she is nominated again, this time on her own behalf. In 2020, she meets singer Yael Naïm, with whom she begins to imagine and build her first personal opus project. Citing Nina Simone, Feist and Björk as her main influences, the artist readily draws on the fields of spiritual, pop, folk and classical music to develop a style that skilfully blends improvisation, poetry and the depth of vibratory “singing”.

It was in June 2023 that these two artists gave their first concert as a duo, instantly creating a shared palette of expression. This connection gave rise to the desire to pursue this emotional and musical journey together. They compose on the spot, as if drawing with four hands, subtle impressions between jazz, pop and chanson.