Jump to content

Martin Meissonnier

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Martin Meissonnier
Martin Meissonnier in the 1990s
Martin Meissonnier in the 1990s
Background information
OriginParis, France
Occupation(s)Film director, musician, record producer,
Instrument(s)Guitar, keyboards
Years active1975–present

Martin Meissonnier is a French musician, producer, journalist, and filmmaker. He is known for his work with African pop musicians such as Fela Kuti[1] and King Sunny Adé and Khaled among other diverse artists. His producing and film directing credits include documentaries about finance, politics and history.

Biography

[edit]

He began as a young reporter for the legendary French daily Libération. In the 1970s as young agent, he brought numerous jazz musicians to France, such as Don Cherry,[2] the Art Ensemble of Chicago, John Lee Hooker.[3] He also promoted concerts[4] for artists such as Nass El Ghiwane,[5] Franco & OK Jazz, Nana Vasconcelos, Turkish band Oriental Wind,[6] Han Bennink & Peter Brötzmann, Art Blakey,[7] Sun Ra, Chico & Von Freeman, Albert Collins, Lounge Lizards,[8] Defunkt, Dizzy Gillespie, Old & New Dreams,[9] Art Pepper, Moondog,[10] The Slits, Taj Mahal, Pharoah Sanders, Gil Evans,[11] Egberto Gismonti, Rashied Ali & Andrew Cyrille[12] and others.

In the early 1980s, he became the manager/producer of Fela Kuti,[13] King Sunny Ade;[14][15] in 1984 Ray Lema,[16] the Malopoets from South Africa,[17] Manu Dibango;[18] in 1986 Papa Wemba[19] and Wasis Diop. In 1986, he organised the first raï festival in Bobigny.[20][21] As music Producer, he also worked with Khaled,[22] Safy Boutella, Amina, Arthur H, in 1994 Robert Plant & Jimmy Page,[23] and Alan Stivell.[24][25]

In 1989 to 1994, he directed the TV series Megamix [26][27] for la Sept on France 3 and then Arte,[28] world music magazine which ran for six years on French television and other countries.[29] Later, he directed documentary films for Arte and Canal+, including several programmes about history, the Internet, digital art, rap, and the techno movement. In 2001, his book about depleted uranium entitled Uranium appauvri : la guerre invisible[30] was published by Robert Laffont.[31]

Martin Meissonnier's work[32] as a filmmaker has a strong global flavor. His producing and directing credits include major documentaries and documentary series in finance, politics and history. They include, 'Web Site Story', 'McWorld', 'Music Is My Drug', 'On the Trail of the Queen of Sheba',[33] 'The Life of Buddha',[34] "Vraie Jeanne, Fausse Jeanne","On God's Right"[35]'The Genie of Electricity' and "Waste your life" a film about recycling.[36] Since 2015 he directed and produced two films on well being in the work place"Happiness at Work"[37][38] and "What Women Want at Work".[39][40] Today he concentrates on 'Happiness at School' or how to reinvent school in the digital age. Accompanied by a feature-length documentary of the same name made with Canal+, Happiness@School is also a web platform [1] where best practices in education are shared through short films.

Since 2018, he remixes congolese street music for an album on Crammed Disks "Kinshasa 78" [41][32] and he also performs as a DJ for music Festivals like The TransMusicales de Rennes, Tropisme, Les Suds Arles...[42]

As for now, he is exploring the subjects of work and new company models, since he's made researches and directed his films Happiness at Work (2015) and What Women Want at Work (2017) and Happiness at School, a web platform and film project for October 2021.

Albums (as music producer)

[edit]

[62]

Soundtracks (composer)

[edit]
  • Walking Around"A short film directed by Gilles Bovon (2022)[63]
  • Les cercueils de monsieur Kani Kwé by Thierry Secrétan (1987, La Générale de Production cinématographique)
  • Kaltex en Chine (1988, Kaltex)
  • Music of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville - « Victoire de la Musique » 92 - « Prix de la Musique Symphonique Légère de la SACEM »[64]
  • Joe et Marie by Tania Stöcklin (1993)
  • Peintres de Kumasi by Thierry Secrétan (1995, Online/Arte)
  • Les Guignols de l'Info, TV series (1995–2010, Canal+)
  • Tripalium by Christophe Loizillon (1996 – Vertigo productions)
  • Les 100 photos du Siècle, documentary (1998, Capa)
  • Spin Doctors, documentary by Luc Hermann & Gilles Bovon (2001, Canal+)
  • République Atomique documentary by David Carr Brown (2001, Artline/ARTE)
  • Inside Broadmoor, documentary by David Carr Brown (2002, Psychology News UK/Channel 5 UK)
  • l’Affaire Clearstream, documentary by Denis Robert (2003, The Factory/Canal +)
  • Death of Diana, documentary by David Carr Brown (2003, Psychology News UK/ABC-Channel 5 UK)
  • The Great Match, film by Gerardo Olivares (2006, Wanda Films) (in competition at Berlinale 2006)
  • Reporters, series directed by Suzan Fenn & Ivan Straburg (2007–2009, Capa Drama/Canal+)
  • Saviors in the Night, film by Ludi Boeken (2009, Acajou Films, Pandora, Filmforum)[65]
  • Rose, c'est Paris, film by Bettina Rheims & Serge Bramly (2010, Arte/Productions Campagne Première)[66]

Collaborations on soundtracks

[edit]

Documentary films (director)

[edit]
  • Music is my Drug/Psychedelic Trance (1996, 52', Compagnie des Phares et Balises/Canal+)
  • Internet - un monde digital with Alvin Toffler, Louis Rosetto (1996, 120', Série Limitée/Arte)
  • Time Guardians (1997, 60', The Factory/Canal+)
  • The Wheel of Destiny on Astrology around the world, shot in India, Hong Kong, Guatemala, Mali... (1998, 2x52', The Factory/Arte)
  • www.monde with Jean-Marie Messier, Serge Tchuruk, Michael Bloomberg about the Net Economy and banking (1998, 110', Gaumont Television/Arte)
  • Web Site Story (1999, 4x26', Gaumont Television/European Community/Arte) (compilation of www.monde & Internet : un monde digital).
  • In the Footsteps of the Queen of Sheba shot in Yemen, Ethiopia & Israel (1999, 2x52', Gaumont Television/Arte/SBS/AVRO)
  • Invisible War, Depleted Uranium and the Politics of Radiation (2000, 64', Canal+) [67]« Grand Prize » of the Sinergie scientific film festival 2001
  • Paroles de Juges with judges Eva Joly, Renaud Van Ruymbecke, Gerardo Colombo etc... (2000, 90', Tetra Media/Arte)
  • Une Europe sans Loi with judges Eva Joly, Renaud Van Ruymbecke, Gerardo Colombo etc... (2000, 52', Tetra Media/la Cinquième)
  • Mc World - Brand Culture featuring Benjamin Barber, Eric Schlosser, Dan Wieden... (2002, 90', Sodaperaga/Arte) « Prix Leonardo » for best European production 2002 - Italy
  • The Life of Buddha (2003, 90', General Pattern/Infine films/Buddhist Broadcasting Foundation/Arte/SBS)
  • On God's Right, in collaboration with Roger Trilling (2004, 55', Productions Campagne Première/Canal+/SBS Australia)
  • Africa Live - Roll Back Malaria, five concert films, featuring Youssou N'Dour, Tiken Jah Fakoly, Corneille, Awadi & others (2005, 300', Antelope Films/Ideale Audience/Flotow Productions/Xippi)
  • Vraie Jeanne Fausse Jeanne (Inquest on Joan of Arc) (2007, 90', Arte/Productions Campagne Première)[68]
  • Poubelle la vie(Belgium title) or "Ma poubelle est un trésor", co-directed by Pascal Signolet (2010, 90', Productions Campagne Première/France 3/RTBF)
  • Dancing City Johannesburg (2012 Campagne Première/France O/Voyage)
  • La fée Electricité co-directed by Pascal Signolet (2012 Productions Campagne Première/France 5)
  • Happiness at Work Le Bonheur au Travail(2015 Productions Campagne Première/Lux Fugit Films/ARTE/RTBF
  • Le Travail a-t-il un sexe? or "What Women Want at Work" (2018 Productions Campagne Première/France 5)
  • Paris London: Music Connections (2019 (Productions Campagne Première/Musée de la Porte Dorée)
  • Happiness at School or Le Bonheur à l'École film 90minutes for CANAL+Docs(2021 Productions Campagne Première)
  • Happiness at School or Le Bonheur à l'École3 x 52mn for CANAL+Kids (2022 Productions Campagne Première)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Grammy: Seun Kuti delivers thrilling performance". 11 February 2019.
  2. ^ Eliane Azoulay "Don Cherry & Latif Khan - Music/Sangam" Archived 2009-04-24 at the Wayback Machine, Télérama, April 25, 2009
  3. ^ "Meissonnier, le moissonneur. - Libération". Liberation.fr. Archived from the original on 2011-12-10. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
  4. ^ "Trois batteurs au Bataclan". Le Monde.fr. Lemonde.fr. June 1979. Archived from the original on 2021-12-10. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
  5. ^ "Martin Meissonier, l'hédoniste – RFI Musique" (in French). Musique.rfi.fr. 2001-12-24. Archived from the original on 2021-12-10. Retrieved 2022-02-09.
  6. ^ "Martin Meissonier, l'hédoniste". RFI Musique. 2001-12-24. Archived from the original on 2014-07-29. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
  7. ^ Zwerin, Mike (2001-11-07). "Rai Meets Reggae:Where the Action Is - The New York Times". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2021-12-11. Retrieved 2022-02-09.
  8. ^ "Perfect Sound Forever: John Lurie interview". Furious.com. Archived from the original on 2021-01-26. Retrieved 2022-02-09.
  9. ^ ""OLD AND NEW DREAMS" au Palais des glaces". Le Monde.fr. 7 August 1979.
  10. ^ Riepe, Adele (1979-01-03). "'Moondog' Refines Music in Germany - The New York Times". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2021-12-10. Retrieved 2022-02-09.
  11. ^ Temps de Lecture 3 min. (30 December 2001). "La persistance de l'esprit de La Chapelle". Le Monde.fr. Lemonde.fr. Archived from the original on 2021-12-11. Retrieved 2022-02-09.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ Temps de Lecture 2 min. (1979-05-31). "Trois batteurs au Bataclan". Lemonde.fr. Archived from the original on 2021-12-11. Retrieved 2022-02-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ a b Zwerin, Mike (2001-11-07). "Rai Meets Reggae - Where the Action Is". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2014-01-24. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
  14. ^ Temps de Lecture 12 min. (1983-06-05). "L'arrivée du " Roi Soleil " de la musique africaine". Lemonde.fr. Archived from the original on 2021-12-11. Retrieved 2022-02-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ Robert Palmer "Past and present fuse in African pop" Archived 2016-09-17 at the Wayback Machine, The New York Times, October 10, 1982
  16. ^ "Lema - Biography". RFI Music. Archived from the original on 2014-01-13. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
  17. ^ "LE PRINTEMPS DE BOURGES La France découvre Sotho Malopoet". Lemonde.fr. 2014-06-15. Archived from the original on 2021-04-10. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
  18. ^ "Tam-Tam Pour L'Éthiopie". Lemonde.fr. 1985-04-22. Archived from the original on 2020-03-30. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
  19. ^ "MUSIQUE. Invité au Festival d'Angoulême, le Zaïrois Papa Wemba aux deux visages. La rumba de Wemba. – Libération". Liberation.fr. 1995-06-03. Archived from the original on 2021-12-11. Retrieved 2022-02-09.
  20. ^ "Raï is not dead - Culture et pop".
  21. ^ David (2010-09-10). "Khaled and the myth of rai". mideast.foreignpolicy.com. Archived from the original on 2013-11-15. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
  22. ^ Robin Denselow "Khaled, Liberté" Archived 2017-05-10 at the Wayback Machine, The Guardian, May 8, 2009
  23. ^ J.D. Considine "Page and Plant shake the Led out on their latest tour", The Baltimore Sun, March 19, 1995
  24. ^ "Pour l'amour des Celtes". The Independent. 1996-07-11. Archived from the original on 2021-12-10. Retrieved 2022-02-09.
  25. ^ Temps de Lecture 3 min. (2000-05-05). "Alan Stivell séduit, quand Denez Prigent tourne en rond". Lemonde.fr. Archived from the original on 2021-12-11. Retrieved 2022-02-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  26. ^ "Martin Meissonnier - L'Express". Lexpress.fr. 1994-04-07. Archived from the original on 2021-12-11. Retrieved 2022-02-09.
  27. ^ "Billboard". 9 July 1994. Archived from the original on 9 February 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  28. ^ "Archives magazine Histoire d'un rendez-vous manqué". Technikart. Archived from the original on 2014-07-19. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
  29. ^ Serge Bressan "Martin Meissonnier" Archived 2010-11-07 at the Wayback Machine, L'Express, April 7, 1994
  30. ^ Thu, Feb 1, 2001, 00:00 (2001-02-01). "Study highlights deception over health risks of depleted uranium". Irishtimes.com. Archived from the original on 2021-03-02. Retrieved 2022-02-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  31. ^ Editions Robert Laffont "Uranium appauvri : la guerre invisible" Archived 2007-11-01 at the Wayback Machine
  32. ^ a b "Martin Meissonnier, le Megamix des musiques du monde | ARTE Radio". Archived from the original on 2021-01-20. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  33. ^ "Recherche simple "" : liste de notices | BnF Catalogue général". Catalogue.bnf.fr. Archived from the original on 2021-12-11. Retrieved 2022-02-09.
  34. ^ "Buddha: Where art thou? | Latest News India". Hindustan Times. 2010-04-15. Archived from the original on 2021-02-08. Retrieved 2022-02-09.
  35. ^ "Canal+ diffuse une enquête sur les fondamentalistes chrétiens". 18 October 2004. Archived from the original on 2018-06-20. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  36. ^ "" Ma poubelle est un trésor ", docu sur la bataille des déchets". Nouvelobs.com. 2010-04-20. Archived from the original on 2021-02-25. Retrieved 2022-02-09.
  37. ^ "Watch Happiness At Work | Prime Video". Amazon. Archived from the original on 2022-02-09. Retrieved 2022-02-09.
  38. ^ ""Le Bonheur au travail ?" : ce n'est pas impossible…". Telerama.fr. 24 February 2015. Archived from the original on 2018-11-03. Retrieved 2022-02-09.
  39. ^ Nouvelle, L'Usine (24 November 2017). ""Le travail a-t-il un sexe ?", un documentaire revigorant sur la longue marche vers l'égalité au travail". Usinenouvelle.com. Archived from the original on 2019-03-29. Retrieved 2022-02-09.
  40. ^ "3 raisons de regarder le documentaire " le travail a-t-il un sexe ? " - Elle Active". 26 November 2017. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  41. ^ "Review". Songlines. Archived from the original on 2021-12-10. Retrieved 2021-12-10.
  42. ^ "Musiques du monde : Le deejaying, la dernière tentation de Martin Meissonnier". Le Monde.fr. 25 January 2020. Archived from the original on 10 December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  43. ^ "Music/Sangam". Les Inrocks. Archived from the original on 2014-07-19. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
  44. ^ "Raw and Uncooked". Archived from the original on 2021-12-10. Retrieved 2021-12-10.
  45. ^ "BBC - Music - Review of King Sunny Adé and his African Beats - Synchro System and Aura". Archived from the original on 2021-03-16. Retrieved 2021-12-10.
  46. ^ a b "The Quietus | Features | Baker's Dozen | Elevate Your Mind: Seun Anikulapo Kuti's Favourite Albums". 30 May 2018. Archived from the original on 2022-02-09. Retrieved 2021-12-19.
  47. ^ "Minister congratulates King Sunny Ade at 70, calls him a cultural ambassador -". 22 September 2016. Archived from the original on 2021-12-10. Retrieved 2021-12-10.
  48. ^ "L'arrivée du " Roi Soleil " de la musique africaine". Le Monde.fr. Lemonde.fr. 6 June 1983. Archived from the original on 2021-02-25. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
  49. ^ "Il y a un an : Disparition de Manu Dibango, le patriarche". 24 March 2021. Archived from the original on 10 December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  50. ^ "Zebra Crossing featuring Tony Allen - Too Many Prisoners version mellophone (CW Edit)". YouTube. 11 August 2020. Archived from the original on 2021-12-19. Retrieved 2021-12-19.
  51. ^ "Khaled. Chanteur et producteur : "Un nouvel album avec les guest-stars Soolking, French Montana, DJ Snake…" | El Watan". Archived from the original on 2021-12-19. Retrieved 2021-12-19.
  52. ^ "Wasis Diop - Biographie, discographie et fiche artiste". 3 March 2011. Archived from the original on 19 December 2021. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  53. ^ "MUSIQUE. Invité au Festival d'Angoulême, le Zaïrois Papa Wemba aux deux visages. La rumba de Wemba. - Libération". Liberation.fr. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
  54. ^ "Amina, métisse de l'Europe la chanteuse de Carthage représentait la France à l'Eurovision". Le Monde.fr. 7 May 1991. Archived from the original on 9 November 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  55. ^ "ROBERT PLANT AND JIMMY PAGE INTERVIEWED (1994): Only the song remains". 20 October 2008.
  56. ^ "CG: Seun Kuti & Egypt 80". Robert Christgau. Archived from the original on 2014-07-19. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
  57. ^ Robin Denselow (2009-05-07). "World review: Khaled: Liberté | Music". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2014-07-26. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
  58. ^ "Musique: Louis Bertignac, le grizzly sort les riffs (interview)" (in French). leJDD.fr. Archived from the original on 2014-07-19. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
  59. ^ Neil Spencer (8 October 2011). "Aziz Sahmaoui: Aziz Sahmaoui & University of Gnawa – review | Music | The Observer". Guardian. Archived from the original on 2014-07-26. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
  60. ^ "Les jaillissements sonores de Maïa Barouh". Le Monde.fr. 5 March 2015. Archived from the original on 9 November 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  61. ^ "Aziz Sahmaoui, la musique, une magie qui dure". 6 February 2019. Archived from the original on 9 November 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  62. ^ "Crammed Discs sort un album colossal de trésors inédits de groupes de Kinshasa". 5 November 2019. Archived from the original on 10 December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  63. ^ "News – Venezia Shorts Italy".
  64. ^ "JEUX OLYMPIQUES d'ALBERTVILLE - Compagnie DCA - Philippe Decouflé".
  65. ^ "Unter Bauern | filmportal.de".
  66. ^ "Tout le casting du film Rose, c'est Paris (TV)".
  67. ^ "America's big dirty secret - Le Monde diplomatique - English edition". Mondediplo.com. March 2002. Archived from the original on 2011-08-05. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
  68. ^ "Vraie Jeanne, Fausse Jeanne". Le Monde.fr. 22 May 2010. Archived from the original on 19 December 2021. Retrieved 19 December 2021.