Raphael Bas

Raphael Bas is a talented guitarist and harmonica player who has been composing and performing music since junior high school. He grew up in Bourges, France, home of the eclectic music festival Printemps de Bourges, where he first performed at age 15. Now based in New Orleans, Bas forwards the classic sounds of Gypsy jazz ala Django Reinhardt and traditional New Orleans jazz, all in a distinctive, precise style. Bas can be found playing solo, as a guest artist, and in his band, Harmonouche.

Raphael currently lives and works in New Orleans where he pursues his musical vocation, playing French gypsy swing while incorporating the sound of New Orleans trad jazz into his repertoire. Raphael now performs under his own name and with his band, Harmonouche; he is also known as the co-founder of the post-Katrina band Vavavoon, which won awards and hearts as a collective of Crescent City musicians returning home after the federal levee failures.

Harmonouche includes Chris Kohl on clarinet, Nathan Lambertson on stand up bass, and Pascal Valcasara, a talented multi-instrumentalist playing saxophone, piano, melodica and cajon. Bart Ramsey often accompanies the band on accordion and piano.

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