Download the booklet of the Quartet in PDF format

Established around ten years ago, the Didier Labbé Quartet has performed over 300 concerts in France and abroad, produced five repertoires and recorded 4 albums. The 2010 creation was inspired by the work of Abdullah Ibrahim. The repertoire is a mixture of pieces from the South African composer as well as personal compositions, Didier Labbé writing with the composer’s music in mind.
Abdullah Ibrahim’s music, also known by the name Dollar Brand, is characterized both by its dominantly festive aspect and its spiritual dimension, giving it great depth. These two elements helped Didier Labbé to make his choice.

Special Guests

Theo Ndindwa (dance)

A stage director, dancer, teacher and choreographer, Theo Nidindwa first studied ballet at Cape Town University. After spending a few years in the United Kingdom where he was able to work with Norman Douglas, Cathy Mostono or Christopher Humpson, Theo co-founded the iKapa Dance Theatre Company in 2007 in Cape Town. The company now has a large number of choreographies and productions which have travelled all over the world.

Tlale Makhene (percussion)

One of the most remarkable South African percussionists, if not the most remarkable. Tlale Makhene began playing at the age of four, first in church then in his school brass band. His approach to percussion is primarily spiritual, as he follows the path marked out by his ancestors. The incredible energy he radiates makes him a widely respected musician.

The musicians

Didier Labbé (sax, flute)

The founder of Messieurs Mesdames, he has produced different formations within the Company(duo, quartet, octet, cine-concert, musical plays and dance). An adventurer of sounds, he has always studied encounters between jazz and traditional music. Enriched from his diverse encounters with in particular Hermeto Pascoal or Bojan Z, Didier Labbé continues to travel through the musical world, drawing inspiration across cultures.

Grégory Daltin (accordeon)

Grégory Daltin studied music at CRR and at the CESMD in Toulouse in Guy Ferla’s class. He has received numerous awards, has the State music teacher diploma and teaches at the CRR in Toulouse. To expand his musical repertoire, he performs with the Orchestre national du Capitole de Toulouse, the Contemporary music Pythagore and the Orchestre de la Cité d'Ingres...
He has shared the stage with Didier Labbé, Coco Guimbaud, Les Grandes Bouches, Mouss et Hakim, La rue Kétanou, Batignolles, Lionel Suarez, Jean-Luc Amestoy,...

Jean-Denis Rivaleau (drums, percussion)

Composer, drummer, teacher, he has constantly been involved in Toulouse musical life for over 20 years. Ranging from the art of composing with his trio Nouvelles Aventures to his teaching projects with Music’Halle, Jean-Denis Rivaleau can be heard on all fronts: le Big Band 31, Lone Kent, Bernardo Sandoval, Olivier Capelle or even Zebda were won over by  the master of drums from Toulouse.

Laurent Guitton (tuba)

After receiving the top prize (Premier Prix) from CNSMD at Paris in 1995, Laurent Guitton turned towards jazz and improvised music. From 1996 onwards, he became a member of the Didier Labbé Quartet and has performed over 300 concerts with them. In 2008, he formed the group Electric Tuba Gang, played in a duo with Didier Dulieux and worked on a cine-concert with the association Halluciné. In 2010, he wrote and directed the music of a show : “Querbes banlieue” for the festival Les nuits et les jours de Querbes.

Music