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Didier Lockwood

Didier Lockwood (born February 11, 1956) is a French jazz violinist.

He was born in Calais and studied classical violin and composition at the Calais Conservatory. However, his brother Francis made him receptive to forms of music other than the classical and he quit his studies in 1972. Didier was entranced by the improvisation of Jean-Luc Ponty on Frank Zappa's King Kong album and took up the amplified violin. He joined the progressive rock group Magma, touring and notable featured on their 1975 Live/Hhaï album. Lockwood was also influenced by Polish violinist Zbigniew Seifert and Stéphane Grappelli, whom he joined on tour.

He has also played with Quebecois fusion group Uzeb on their Absolutely Live album.

He is famous for exploring new musical environments and for performing various sound imitations on his amplified violin, such as seagulls or trains.

On July 23, 1982, in Montreux, Switzerland, he performed in concert with guitarist Allan Holdsworth, drummer Billy Cobham, bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce, and keyboardist David Sancious.

Didier Lockwood created a string instruments improvisation school, CMDL (Centre des Musiques Didier Lockwood), in 2001.

He is married to singer Caroline Casadesus.

Throughout 2006 Didier has been touring with Martin Taylor the Jazz guitarist. In these performances it is noticeable to see that he is very involved in improvisation.

Festival International de Jazz de Port-au-Prince, 2017 - Part 2

by Mark Sullivan
March 23, 2017

Part 1 | Part 2 Festival International de Jazz de Port-au-Prince Port-au-Prince, Haiti March 4-11, 2017 In celebration of International Women's Day, Wednesday's concert featured all bands led by women, a first for the festival. Chilean saxophonist Melissa Aldana kicked off the show. Although not literally--she explained that she was not feeling well, and would be seated while performing. She certainly sounded fine to me, with a warm tenor sound reminiscent ...

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Album Review

Didier Lockwood: Tribute To St

by Jim Santella
September 1, 2000

Inimitable. Stéphane Grappelli was one of a kind. Rather than attempt to imitate him, Didier Lockwood pays tribute in his own way. A love of melody and a keen sense of swing remain as common denominators. Lockwood, however, adds high harmonics, spiritual whistles, unique improvisation and modern harmonic sounds to the performance. The changes are subtle, but they update the music appropriately. Lockwood provides two original compositions along with the program of songs associated with Stéphane Grappelli. Lockwood’s “The Kid" ...

272

Album Review

Didier Lockwood: Tribute To Stephane Grappelli

by Mike Neely
September 1, 2000

French violinist Didier Lockwood’s new CD brings together three of Europe’s outstanding jazz musicians in a lively Tribute To Stephane Grappelli. The classically trained Lockwood is accompanied by the Danish bass master Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen and noted French guitarist Bireli LaGrene in a set that would do Grappelli proud.

Lockwood is the recipient of the Waldrop violin, first presented to Grappelli in 1937. The famed French violinist Michel Waldrop initially presented the violin to Grappelli in recognition of him ...

238

Album Review

Didier Lockwood: Tribute To Stephane Grappelli

by AAJ Staff
August 1, 2000

After his excursions into modal jazz, rock, fusion and bop, Didier Lockwood has come home again to revel in the music of jazz violin great Stéphane Grappelli with whom Lockwood performed early in his career.In the process, Lockwood is exposing his astounding talent on a difficult instrument seldom heard in jazz to a broader audience. That audience can't help but sit up and take notice.With the aid of just-as-astounding Biréli Lagrène on guitar (assuming the Django ...