Zappanale (Then & Now) – Lazuli

Lazuli is a French progressive rock band formed in 1998 in the Alès region in France and consisting of 6 members. Their music is a clever mixture of styles with some unique and unusual instrumentation: Chapman Stick, marimba, vibraphone, percussions, guitars, vocals, etc. as well as a unique instrument created by Claude Leonetti: the “Léode”.

For Lazuli‘s musicians, songs are a canvas on which the they mix colors to paint their world. The lyrics reflect the problems of the modern world. With his floating voice, playing on words, Dominique sings the Man in all of his facets and flaws.

The musicians:

Dominique Leonetti – vocals, electric, 12 string guitar
Claude Leonetti – Léode
Sylvain BayolChapman Stick
Gédéric Byar – guitar
Frédéric Juan – marimba, vibraphone, percussion
Yohan Simeon – percussion, marimba, métalophone

Lazuli‘s sound pays homage to many of the great prog-rock acts of the past (at times, they sound like a cross between the bands Yes and Rush, with a smattering of Renaissance). Like the clip, above, “Cap’taine Coeur de Miel (Ange)” performed live in Montreux at Ned’s Music Club during Montreux Prog Nights, November 14th, 2008, so were the following three clips — “Cassiopée”, “En Avant Doute” and “Amnésie”.



Lazuli will be making their first appearance on the Zappanale 20 Main Stage on Saturday, August 15th, 2009.

Author: urbangraffito

I am a writer, editor, publisher, philosopher, and foole (not necessarily in that order). Cultural activist and self-described anarchist.

2 thoughts on “Zappanale (Then & Now) – Lazuli”

  1. That is an incredibly beautiful sustaining sound he gets on that thing!
    (I want a left-handed version.)
    The rest is conventional in vocal & instrumental arrangements.

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