Patrice Caratini

Patrice Caratini is a French double bassist, composer, and conductor, born on 11 July 1946 in Neuilly-sur-Seine (Hauts-de-Seine, France).

His career began in Parisian clubs where he played jazz with Michel Roques and Franco Manzecchi. Other musicians then joined him, such as pianists Georges Arvanitas, Martial Solal, and Mal Waldron (album "Ursula" with Franco Manzecchi in 1969 on Musica records), and trombonist Slide Hampton. In 1976, he formed a duo with guitarist Marc Fosset, later joined by accordionist Marcel Azzola. Together, they accompanied Stéphane Grappelli for over ten years. He led the jazz orchestra accompanying Maxime Le Forestier's purple album, particularly on the song Le fantôme de Pierrot. He also accompanied Maxime Le Forestier on double bass during the Olympia 1973 concert and on the Grand Échiquier Spécial Lino Ventura broadcast on 31 May 1979.

Alongside bandoneon player Juan José Mosalini and pianist Gustavo Beytelmann, he also plays contemporary tango.

In 1980, he created an onztet (eleven-piece ensemble) and composed for himself and other formations. In 1992, he actively participated in the creation of the Union des Musiciens de Jazz (UMJ). In 2007, in Sceaux (Hauts-de-Seine), he created Xocoatl, a work for large choir, jazz orchestra, and narrator with the Chœur Nicolas de Grigny.

In 2003, with Jean-Rémy Guédon, he co-founded the association Grands Formats, a federation of orchestras that brings together professional jazz and improvised music ensembles with artistic projects. Its ambition is to promote the development and influence of these orchestras in France and internationally.

Patrice Caratini received the Sacem Grand Prix du Jazz on 10 December 2007.

Patrice is the father of clarinettist Clément Caratini and actor Louis Caratini.