Rémi Geffroy – Carrefour des Anges (CVE Prod, 2025)
Rémi Geffroy’s Carrefour des Anges is the sixth offering from the virtuoso diatonic accordionist and composer. Geffroy’s work is rooted in the folk tradition, yet he refuses to be confined by it.
The album’s title, translating to Crossroads of Angels, hints at transition, discovery, and reflection. From the opening notes, Geffroy’s masterful accordion sets the stage for a journey, evoking the lilting strains of French folk music while seamlessly intertwining western classical and jazz influences. It’s no surprise that he surrounds himself with a carefully curated ensemble: the string quartet’s delightful performances, the grounding pulse of drums, and guitar.
The album begins with “Samsara,” a dark piece that builds to an explosive climax. This is followed by the rhythmic grace of “Rosa Alba’s Waltz,” which transitions into “La Reine de la Nuit,” a commanding piece led by expressive chamber string arrangements.
“Laboratorium” brings a frantic energy, with its driving guitar and bodhrán anchoring an epic orchestration. The journey continues with “Carrefour des Anges,” a disorienting yet melancholic piece marked by its unconventional 11/8 time signature.
Celtic influences return with “The Irishman” in an instrumental rendition of the Irish ballad. Momentum builds again in “Gambiarra,” where violin and guitar solos are layered over vibrant African rhythms, culminating in “Carmine Road.”
“Les 3 Passages” introduces a simple, innocent melody that evokes a sense of hesitation, closing with a jubilant flourish. The playful “Le Chien et le Ver” follows, offering a lively polka imbued with subtle alchemical undertones.
The album nears its conclusion with “Ouroboros,” a cyclical piece where intertwining strings symbolize destruction and renewal. The journey ends with a vocal reprise of “The Irishman,” featuring Bert Yates’ poignant interpretation of an Irishman’s existential reflections.
Rémi Geffroy, born in 1987 in Toulouse, is an accordionist and composer known for mixing traditional, western classical, and jazz influences into a distinctive musical style. Growing up surrounded by traditional music, his grandfather was a harmonica player, and his grandmother led a folk group in Aveyron, Geffroy developed an early connection to folk melodies. He began studying diatonic accordion at age 10 at the Cahors Conservatory and later expanded his musical repertoire by playing bass guitar in jazz, variety, and pop-rock cover bands.
After earning a degree in musicology, Geffroy turned to composition, releasing his debut album, Entre-Deux, in 2011. His exploration of genre fusion continued with the 2014 EP Parenthèse, where he performed most of the instruments, and his second album, Du Jour au Lendemain, in 2016. That same year, he joined the Celtic rock group The Booze Brothers, contributing to their album The Lemming Experience (2019).
In 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Geffroy collaborated with six musicians from diverse backgrounds to create Odysseus, an album released in 2021 that reflects his signature hybridization of musical traditions. Alongside his recordings, Geffroy has performed extensively across France and Europe, hosting workshops and masterclasses while captivating audiences with his innovative compositions and unique style.
Musicians: Rémi Geffroy on accordion; Estelle Besingrand on cello; Mélanie Brelaud on violin; Julien Casanovas on violin; Alix Habert on alto violin; Julien Lameiras on drums; Antoine Petit on guitar; Laure Yates Nuzzi on bodhran; and Bert Yates on guitar, voice.
Alix Habert began studying music at age 5, focusing on violin after western classical training at the conservatory. Between 2010 and 2018, she earned a degree in musicology and two diplomas in music therapy. Concurrently, she taught violin and performed with ensembles such as the Contrepoint Orchestra of Montpellier. She later added viola to her repertoire. Since 2019, she has specialized in live performance, exploring pop, jazz, folk, traditional music, and western classical styles. Alix performs in various formats, ranging from duos to large ensembles, including collaborations with Rémi Geffroy and the Mozart Orchestra of Toulouse.
Julien Lameiras, born in 1984 in the Lot region, started playing drums and African percussion at 16, specializing in Manding percussion. Trained by African masters, he formed his first traditional group before completing intensive studies at CIAM Bordeaux (2006–2009) and earning a jazz diploma (DEM). He expanded into jazz, French chanson, funk, and Afro music. Since 2019, he has focused on Cuban, Brazilian, and Réunionese percussion. Julien sings with Vagarem, co-founded Belugueta (Occitan polyphony) in 2017, and Enagua (Iberian percussion) in 2019. He joined Rémi Geffroy’s septet in 2022 as drummer for the Odysseus tour.
Antoine Petit began guitar studies at age 13, transitioning from rock to Celtic and French traditional music. He played with Valsaviris until age 20 and joined Keltas in 2011, where he remains active. Antoine has performed in duos (La Fille du Fermier, Wooden Bird, Extrabal) and co-founded Akan Khelen, a Balkan music group active from 2016 to 2022. In 2021, he formed the “Souffle” duo with contemporary dancer Mathilde Rader. He experiments with electronic music for dance performances and joined Rémi Geffroy’s septet in 2023. Antoine also trains as a sound technician and works with projects such as Najma and Cie Furiosa.
Estelle Besingrand received her first cello classes at age 5, studying at conservatories and focusing on jazz and contemporary music. She performs solo, in orchestras, and with ensembles at renowned venues and festivals. Her group, Lyra, has been active for seven years. Estelle also records extensively in studios across genres. Since joining Rémi Geffroy’s group four years ago, she has explored traditional music.
Mélanie Brelaud discovered her passion for traditional Occitan violin in local dance halls. She studied jazz and earned a DEM in traditional music from the Toulouse Conservatory in 2017. After completing Ethnofonik#6 training, she studied Swedish traditional music at the Eric Sahlström Institute and Malungs Folkhögskola. She later joined Kreiz Breizh Akademi #8 to explore Breton influences. Mélanie performs with groups such as La Vesina, Femti Fem, Lo Gat, and Rémi Geffroy’s septet.
Julien Casanovas, born in Provence in 1989, transitioned from western classical violin studies at the Nice Conservatory to jazz after discovering Stéphane Grappelli. He pursued jazz studies at Jean Jaurès University in Toulouse, earning a musicology degree. Julien deepened his knowledge of Occitan modal music with Xavier Vidal’s “Caminaires” program. He now performs with Rémi Geffroy’s septet and other groups, including Duo Supernovas, Maison Rouge, Shamade Swing Trio, Lo Gat, and Sarrabastal.
Author: Madison Quinn
