Clémentine is a French singer and songwriter based in Japan. She debuted in France in 1988 with the single, "Absolument Jazz". In addition to many releases as a singer, she has appeared regularly on the entertainment segment for NHK Educational TV

NHK Educational TV

is the second television service of NHK . It is a sister service of NHK General TV, showing programs of a more educational, cultural or intellectual nature, periodically also showing anime...

 "French TV".

Collaborates frequently with other artists, mostly in Japan. Recently she has often collaborated with her daughter, Solita, who is also a singer.

History

Born in Paris but traveled widely as a child. With her father transferring first to Mexico and later around the world, she grew in touch with Bossa Nova

Bossa Nova

Bossa Nova may refer to:*Bossa nova, a style of music*Bossa Nova , a dance form associated with the music*Bossa Nova , a 2000 film*Bossa Nova - album by John Pizzarelli...

 and other local flavors of music.

Returned to France and started Piano lessons at age 10 and Jazz school at age 12. Started her professional career in 1987 by sending a demo tape to Jazz greats Johnny Griffin

Johnny Griffin

John Arnold Griffin III was an American bop and hard bop tenor saxophonist.- Early life and career :Griffin studied music at DuSable High School in Chicago under Walter Dyett, starting out on clarinet before moving on to oboe and then alto sax...

 and Ben Sidran

Ben Sidran

Ben Sidran is an American jazz and rock pianist, organist, vocalist and writer born in Chicago, noted for his work with the early Steve Miller Band.-Biography:...

, and was subsequently given an opportunity to record several songs with them.

In 1988 released her first single, "Absolument Jazz" with CBS France. Signed a contract with Sony Music Entertainment Japan

Sony Music Entertainment Japan

is Sony's music arm in Japan. SMEJ is directly owned by Sony Corporation and independent from the United States-based Sony Music Entertainment due to its strength in the Japanese music industry....

 in 1990, and released many singles and albums. From 2003 to 2005 switched to the Epic Records Japan

Epic Records

Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...

 label, and from 2005 to 2008 to Toshiba EMI. Returned to Sony Music Entertainment in 2008.

Singles

• "Absolument Jazz" (1988) ; vinyl CBS-651456
• "Un Homme et Une Femme" (1994.9.7) ; SRCS-7447
• "Poisson Lune" (1997.10.22) ; SRCS-8465
• "La Fete" (1998.10.28) ; SRCS-8794
• "Un Dia De Estos" (1999.1.27) ; SRCS-8875
• "Couleur Café" (1999.6.19) ; SRCS-8959
• "Collines Violettes" (2000.3.8) ; SRCS-2233
• "二人でゆっくり ~Tous deux tout doux~" (2001.11.21) ; AICL-1356
  • Clémentine with Jinsei Tsuji
• "Tenohira wo taiyouni" (2004.9.15) ; ESCL-2582
  • Duet with daughter Solita

Albums

• "Spread Your Wings" (1989) ; vinyl
  • later release (2002.3.6) ; SICP-5029
  • Clémentine and Ben Sidran
    Ben Sidran
    Ben Sidran is an American jazz and rock pianist, organist, vocalist and writer born in Chicago, noted for his work with the early Steve Miller Band.-Biography:...
    
    
• "Continent Bleu" (1989) ; CSCS-5026
• "Nes Nuits, Mes Jours" (1990.11.21) ; CSCS-5332
• "En Privé" (1992.7.1) ; SRCS-5898
• "Long Courrier" (1993.7.1) ; SRCS-6760
• "Clémentine Sings Ben Sidran" (1993.11.18) ; SRCS-6887
  • later release (2002.3.6) ; SICP-5030
• "Ils et elle" (1994.9.21) ; SRCS-7458
• "Solita" (1997.5.1) ; SRCS-8284
• "Heure D'Ete" (1998.11.6) ; SRCS-8793
• "Couleur Café" (1999.7.1) ; SRCS-8957
• "Les Voyages" (2000.9.27) ; SRCS-2337
• "Continent Bleu" (2000.11.22) ; SRCS-9628
• "Café Aprés-midi" (2001.7.18) ; SRCS-2503
• "Lil' Darlin'" (2001.12.12) ; SICP-4
• "30 °C" (2002.8.7) ; SICP-190
• "Clé" (2003.6.4) ; ESCL-2409
• "Soleil" (2004.7.7) ; ESCL-2687
• "Made in France" (2005.6.20) ; TOCP-67700
• "Lumiere" (2006.6.14) ; TOCP-67976
• "Chocolats et Sweets" (2008.7.23) ; SICP-1922
• "Sweet Rendez-vous" (2008.9.24) ; SICP-1954
• "Sweet Illumination" (2008.11.26) ; SICP-2077
• "Animentine~Bossa du Animé" (2010.7.21) ; SICP-2770

Best Of Albums

• "A Suivre...～The Very Best of Clementine～" (1996.11.11) ; SRCS-8166
• "Clémentine de Best" (2004.11.26) ; SICP-641

External links

• Official website