TONY BONFILS, OFFICIAL SITE

Tony Bonfils
phone (33) 01 30 76 63 26
fax (33) 01 30 76 92 82
Mobile : (33) 06 12 19 83 84
E-mail : bonfils.tony@free.fr

Tony is currently performing with the Orchestre National de France,
the Orchestre de Paris & with Pierre Perret.

Bass guitarist, Double Bass, Singer

......French version

Contrebassiste et bassiste de forte notoriété dans le milieu du jazz et de la variété, Tony Bonfils est né à Nice. Pendant ses études à l'Université, où il décroche une Licence de Psychologie, mais flirte déjà chaleureusement avec la musique.

Il commence sa carrière de bassiste dans un groupe de Soul Music :"LES PIRANAS" où il rencontre notamment Dédé Ceccarelli. Pendant ces six ans de collaboration avec le groupe, il découvre toutes les clés de la musique et de la contrebasse sous la férule d'André Marriller. Julien Falk lui enseigne les rouages de l'harmonie et Ivan Jullien les secrets de l'arrangement orchestral.
Quand il "monte" à Paris, Tony est déjà un professionnel réputé. Très vite, il accompagne sur scène des artistes tels que Michel Sardou, Gérard Lenorman, Charles Aznavour, Nicolle Croisille, Diane Dufresne, Sacha Distel, Henri Salvador, Yves Montand, Ray Charles ou Tina Turner.
Parallèlement, comme bassiste de studio, il participe aux enregistrements de quantités d'albums de vedettes d'où émergent Johnny Hallyday, Michel Jonasz, Michel Sardou et Francis Cabrel. Il met également sa technique et son talent au service de la multiple Julia Migenès Johnson.

Il écrit les arrangements pour de nombreux artistes dont Dee Dee Bridgewater. Sa passion pour le jazz ne le quitte pas :
....il joue dans les célèbres clubs parisiens, travaille avec Claude Cagnasso, Ivan Jullien et accompagne Tania Maria. Il participe à un album :"Violin Summit" qui réunit deux des plus grands violonistes de jazz :
Jean-Luc Ponty et Stéphane Grappelli, en compagnie des célèbres Philippe Catherine et Maurice Vander.
A la faveur de ses nombreuses activités, Tony Bonfils retrouve ses amis et complices niçois : Bernard Arcadio, Dédé Ceccarelli et Jean-Claude Chavanat auxquels se joignent Michael & Randy Brecker ainsi que John Faddis pour former le groupe "Bad News Travels Fast"
En outre, il est depuis 1992 bassiste permanent de Charles Aznavour, et membre des "Collegiens" de Sacha Distel.

Musicien prolifique, Tony est aussi compositeur. De front, il consacre une partie de son temps à l'enseignement. Professeur au C.I.M. (plus importante école européenne de jazz) et au STUDIO DES VARIETES, enseignant au stage de jazz d'aiguillon.
Tony a également accompagné Catherine Lara, Yves Duteil, le Trio Play Bach, Jacques Loussier et Luciano Pavarotti. Récemment il se produit avec l'Orchestre National de France, l'Orchestre de Paris & Pierre Perret.

......English Version

Tony Bonfils one of the more famous french electric and acoustic-bass player was born in Nice in the south of France. Whilst studying Psychology at the university he began playing in student rock-groups.

It was during that time that he encountered the now world-famous drummer "Dédé" Ceccarrelli, which drove him into the heart of the musical world. Dédé & Tony joined troops to form the group "Les Piranas", with which they secured their first gigs, touring Europe for five years.
Between tours, Tony pursued his study of the Double-Bass at the Nice musical academy. It was here that he befriended bass-player Bunny Brunel and drummer Steve Ferrone.
After graduating in harmony and Orchestration Tony decided to break away from the group and his home town, to begin a career as a free-lance musician in Paris. He has accompanied many a famous French or international Singer, as a menber of one of the numerous stage bands such as :
Charles Aznavour, Sacha Distel, Yves Montand, Ray Charles, Diane Dufresne, Julia Migenes Johnson.

Most of his work is however confined to recording studios, where he recorded albums with such artists as Johnny Hallyday, Michel Jonasz, Francis Cabrel, Claude Nougaro, plus international recordings in London, Rome, Geneva with Tina Turner, Grace Jones & Tania Maria.
He is also an accomplished Jazz player and has formed his own quintet, playing on the double bass and vocals. He has been known to play with Philippe Catherine, Stéphane Grapelli, Jean-Luc Ponty, Maurice Vander & Dee-Dee Bridgewater.
Tony can always be seen on the most eminent French television shows : Telethon, Awards...

To complete his reputation as an all-round musical performer, he also composes, and with this talent has written a great amont of music for commercials, films, songs, videos and theatre.
At the present time, Tony is departing of his talents in two of the most renowned French music schools in Paris :
the "C.I.M." (European Jazz school) and the "Studio des Variétés" school of performing arts.
To crown and compliment his successful career Tony writes articles for music magazines and is the author of a bass method : "Exercice de Style pour la Guitare Basse" (published by H.L. MUSIC / Paris).