Singing workshop teacher
Thierry Peala jumped straight into his career as jazz singer in the Paris jazz clubs and then went on to train at the CIM with Laurence Saltiel, Christiane Legrand and Samy Abenaïm. Early on, he met Michel Graillier, Chet Baker’s pianist, singing and recording with him for two years as a duo. He received the Jury’s Special Award at the Crest Vocal Jazz Festival.
He has regularly performed and recorded in Europe and internationally, from Kiev to New York or Rio de Janeiro. He has performed with Kenny Wheeler and Norma Winston, Gus Nemeth, (Keith Jarrett’s bass player), Mickael Silva (Sammy Davis Jr’s drummer), Georges Brown (drummer for Wes Montgomery and Archie Shepp), AI Levitt (Charlie Parker’s drummer), Portinho (Tania Maria’s drummer ) Bireli Lagrène, Ernie Adams (Patricia Barber’s drummer), Henri Salvador, Richard Galliano, Riccardo del Fra, “Dédé” Ceccarelli, Jim Hall, Toots Thielemans, Steve Grossman… He is also in a long-standing and fruitful collaboration with the composer-pianist Bruno Angelini.
He has taken part in vocal groups such as “6 1/2” with the CD “New York Paris-Nice“, and participated as an actor-jazz vocalist for Yves Rousseau’s “Wanderer 7tet”, a jazz CD based on the music of Franz Schubert.
Thierry Peala recorded several albums under his name as Leader that were commended by the critics:
– CD ”INNER TRACES, A Kenny Wheeler SongBook” with Norma Winstone vocals, Kenny Wheeler trumpet (2001)
– CD ” NEW EDGE ” with Sylvain Beuf sax, Bruno Angelini piano (2007)
– CD “MOVE IS” avec Francesco Bearzatti sax, Bruno Angelini piano (2012), a personal tribute to the world of cinema.
– CD “Elisian trio, Voyageur” with leader-bass player, Duncan Hopkins, and English pianist, Nikki Iles (2017-18).
Thierry Peala, has been teaching jazz since 1994: CIM, Ariam iles de France, the National Conservatory of Metz, National Conservatory of Toulon, Fnacem, the Children’s Jazz Festival of Barcelonette, Marciac, Crest Jazz Vocal, co-founder of the jazz association EdyVoice.