Extract from "Dictionnaire du Jazz" (Robert Laffont)
by André Clergeat (modified by Pierre-Henri Moulard)
COMBELLE Philippe - "Fifi" : French drummer born in Paris, France, 14 July 1939
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Fifi started playing tenor and bass saxophones in his father Alix Combelle's orchestra in 1957.
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The year after he plays the drums in Henri Renaud's band, with Zoot Sims, at Caméléon and then at Blue Note and Trois Mailletz. 1959-61: he plays in many Paris clubs, including Club Saint-Germain, while touring Europe with the Jack Diéval All Stars. He then has a chance to play, in club or on stage with Sonny Criss, Memphis Slim, Don Byas, Sonny Stitt, Slide Hampton, Stéphane Grappelli, Dexter Gordon...
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From 1964 to 1967, he leaves Jazz aside to accompany the great Jacques Brel, He then goes back to his first love, Jazz, by creating the Baroque Trio in 1971. From 1974 to 1991, he plays with Marc Hemmeler Trio at Bilboquet- Club-Saint-Germain (with Pierre Michelot). Then he joins the Gérard Badini 's Swing Machine.
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Becoming the House drummer of Bilboquet jazz club in Paris, he worked for fifteen years, with among other pianists, Marc Hemmeler, Olivier Hutman, Georges Arvanitas… He also holds the drums in Maurice Vander Trio and, since 81 in Jimmy Gourley's. He has also toured in the 90 with dancer Jimmy Slyde, singer La Velle and the Two Bass Hits, of Ray Brown-Pierre Boussaguet. In 1991, he replaces Dennis Mackrel in Buck Clayton's Big Band.
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Since 1998, Fifi plays every week at Caveau des Oubliettes in Paris where he has restarted the Jam Sessions which are now taking place every day of the week, with Stefan Patry, one of Europe's finest hammond organists.
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In 2002 he created Boogaloo Baby with American guitarist and musical director Jeff Hoffman, French organist Philippe Petit and African saxophonist Jean-Jacques Elangué.
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At ease within a trio, where his pulse and groove always under control are reassuring and stimulating, Fifi is also a wonderful Big Band drummer. He did not receive the notoriety that his obvious percussive and rhythmic abilities deserved.
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Philippe Combelle is still very active :
he leads every Tuesday the Jam Sessions at Caveau des Oubliettes with Stefan Patry and prestigious guests.
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He has just finished the recording of Philippe Amizet's last record "Five cats at the window" which will go out at the end of March.
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He tours with Boogaloo Baby all over France (dates to come).
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He is also working on a tour with Rhoda Scott, Stefan Patry and guitarist Gilles Renne in Africa.
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Last, he works on his next CD with African musicians (including Jean-Jacques Elangué) which is a kind of tribute paid to Africa, and all that it has brought to us.
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Philippe is also an very implicated teacher, he has just published a method for drums and percussions (publ. Alphonse Leduc) and he organises
Masterclasses for confirmed drummers.
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Philippe is an "Official Endorser" of cymbal maker Istanbul Agop
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He currently plays on "Tamburo" drums
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