Philippe Crettien born in the South of France, son of French diplomats
grew up
mostly in North Africa, USA and England. Raised in a musical family was
exposed at
a young age to an eclectic styles of music. . Studied piano and settled on
the alto
saxophone in High school while attending the French Lycee in London. After
listening to John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter and Sonny Rollins switch to the
tenor
saxophone in College.
After one year studying Musicology in the Sorbonne University and jazz
saxophone at
the C.I.M in Paris, attended Berklee College of Music and New England
Conservatory
in Boston. Studied with Andy MGee, Joe Allard, Joe Viola, Charles Banacos,
Jerry
Bergonzi, Kenny Werner and Hal Crook.
After graduating Berklee College of music landed his first professional
gig wiht
with Blues Singer Jelly Belly. Since then performed and recorded with
Trudy Silver,
Bill Lowe, John Medeski, Andy Jaffe, Mario Pavone, Bob Gullotti, Andre
Jaume, Rick
Pekham, and Dave Zinno among others. Recorded three CD's as a leader with
Bill Lowe
Philippe Crettien Quintet, "Sunday Train", Philippe Crettien group, "Four
Mad Men In
La la Land", and MCFC Jazz quartet, "Relatively Out there". Artistic
director of the
Toulon International jazz festival and director of the Toulon Jazz festival
workshops 1991-2000.
Currently, Jazz band director the Rivers school and Jazz chair at the
Rivers school
Conservatory.
