clarinet, soprano saxophone and vocals
Thibaut Cablé was taught classical music in Lyon’s Academy of Music. He is also a fully qualified teacher and has passed a Master in musicology on the relations between Jazz and classical music. As such, he claims with passion the right of choosing what pieces to play in a gig, which annoys the rest of the band who often have to follow him in extreme divagations… Like Obelix who fell into magic potion, he fell as a kid in the “New Orleans Cauldron” and soon co-founded PIC’PULSES with Jibé Salé. He is known as the brain of the operation, which logically makes him the undisputed Boss of the orchestra.

trombone and vocals
Sébastien Arapian joined the band in December 2006, and it certainly was the best Christmas present PIC’PULSES could have hoped for. Just look at the package: the trombone is roaring, surely Seb’ knows his business! A good ole sonorous sound, an incredible technique and inspired choruses are the trade mark of the fellow who perfectly found his place in the quintet’s esthetics. He loves it and we can tell: he was a revelation for the band! Kid Ory’s nostalgic fans will appreciate and ask for more, again and again… This incredible instrumental technique has undoubtedly made him the matchless Boss of the orchestra.

banjo, ukulele and vocals
Coming from Montluçon, where he met Thibaut in High School, “Jibé” Salé was more predestined to teach classical guitar and play in blues-rock bands than to play New Orleans jazz on the banjo… But, undoubtly, the odds were wrong! Jibé has proved to be a passionate of the Old Style, and has learned from each of the prestigious acquaintances of the band how to develop a strong instrumental identity and become a valuable supportive player. Co-founder of PIC’PULSES with Thibaut, Jibé is also the crooner of the Jazz band. It is true that this English teacher loves to use the Queen’s English to interpret our beloved standards impeccably. As a virtuoso of voicings, he harmonizes the orchestra with delicacy… Unquestionably, he has imposed himself as the Boss of the Jazz band.

string bass and vocals
Very young, Henry Lemaire discovered the truth of Swing music and traditional Jazz: for the best! Sober (not always though…) and efficient (always for that matter), his constant search for the best possible harmony and his exploding slap playing are the base of the quintet, for the greatest pleasure of the ears. Henry joined the band at the occasion of our last recording (I lost Yolande from Lyon). Since then, we do our best for him to remain as snug as a bug so as to prevent him from leaving us. Thanks Henry! There is no denying that he is unquestionably among the best musicians of this style in France and that he plays internationally for the greatest as upright bass or banjo player (yes, the man is also a very gifted banjo player…) Swing on Granddad!!! At 90 years old, he has, of course, become the revered Boss of the Jazz band.

washboard and vocals
The youngest member of the band, Julien Limonne, joined the band in January 2007. He is the son of the trombonist of Captain Flapscat, a well-known New Orleans Jazz-band in Lyon, and he has inherited his father’s passion. Hilarious behind his washboard or his drums, endowed with a very striking technique and musical sense, Julien offers his overwhelming energy to the Jazz-band. The musician has developed his own peculiar way to play his instrument, far beyond sheer rhythm. Undoubtedly, you will be under his charms (beware gals ;-)! He represents the perfect symbiosis between originality and virtuosity, and because he has attained this delicate equilibrium, he has imposed himself as the inimitable Boss of the Jazz-band.

THEY PLAY, OR HAVE PLAYED, WITH US:

CHRISTIAN "TONTON" BEDOY
soprano saxophone
Christian is undoubtedly one of the greatest specialists in France of Sidney Bechet’s music. Our first encounter with him took place in Lyon, in a night club called… Le New Orleans! We share the same taste for Swing music and have got similar feelings when it comes to improvising. Since then, Christian has been a regular guest of ours.

PADDY SHERLOCK
trombone
At the 16th International New Orleans Jazz Parade (2005), we invited Paddy, gifted Irish trombonist and singer, to play with us. He blew us away with his interpretation of Weary Blues, which we had never heard sung before. On the trombone, Paddy reminds us of Kid Ory, perfect phrasing and big, sonorous sound. His tone is perfectly rooted in the New Orleans tradition. Do not miss him!

FABRICE EULRY
stride piano
We had the great pleasure of playing with Fabrice at a gig in Chaponnay. It is no use mentioning the talent of this musician who is one of the best stride pianists in the world. We are truly thankful for his kindness and simplicity. Though he plays in the biggest piano contests in the world, at almost every festival, and has achieved a world record playing for 24 hours straight, he also played with us. We thank him a thousand times for this pleasurable honour.

JACKY "PARRAIN" BOYADJIAN
string bass and vocals
Jacky, the sole, the unique… The Pope of New Orleans Jazz in Lyon! The first to have believed in us and to have shown the way. Upright bassist in the Flagada Stompers and The Happy Stompers Big Band, historical orchestras in Lyon, he is the soul of the Hotclub. We meet with him regularly to play in the Rhône region or elsewhere. He taught us how to liven up an audience… For all these reasons, we like to call him “The Godfather”!

DANIEL HUCK
alto saxophone and scat
It was intense, and way to short… But we did it! The 4th Night of Jazz in Charly (69) gave us the occasion of playing with Daniel Huck, even though we were still babies in the art of swinging! The audience, first a little shy, finally followed us in the jam session that took place in the hall at the end of the gig, and to this day still talks about it!

JEFF "COLONEL" TRONELLE
string bass and stories of all kinds
What a bizarre individual… A mixture of energy, laughter, uncanny stories - some of which we must admit we hardly understand… - and of kindness, of course. Because this man is the kindest on Earth! And when he starts slapping his beloved instrument on stage, keep your eyes peeled, since there begins the real show! You’ll have a good laugh trying to follow the fellow! We’ve spent so many exceptional moments at his sides… Le Croisic, where we first met him in 2007, is still laughing about this unique character.

COMPLETE LIST OF THE MUSICIANS WHOM WE'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF PLAYING WITH:

Amélie-les-Crayons, Christian BEDOY, Guillaume BOUDOU, Jacky BOYADJIAN, Marie-Claire BOYADJIAN, Grégoire BOYADJIAN, Bruno "Banjo" BRAU, Jean-Paul BRIFFAUX, Jean-Pierre CABLE, Sébastien CHETAIL, André CORNELLI, Jean CORS, Maurice DEMANGE, Michel DEVINANT, Christophe DUCHAMP, Frédéric "Papy" ESPINOUX, Fabrice EULRY, Richard FOUCHER, Georges GIUDICE, Lionel GRIVET, Daniel HUCK, Philippe KOURY, Henri LEMAIRE, Denis LIMONNE, Guy MARTIN, Brian MILLER, Mississippi Showboat, Jean-Marc "Chapeau" MONNEZ, Jérôme NICOLAS, Nicolas ROBIN, Paddy SHERLOCK, Nicolas TAITE, Jeff "Colonel" TRONELLE, John ZIDI...