par Viva Wittman
Albert Assayag tells me that he’s been playing music since he can remember, and “since some time,” he says, he has been writing books on topicality, philosophy, society, and of course, music! His book Points de vue d’un home ordinaire (points of view of an ordinary man) has merited five stars on Amazon, and as for the others, they are currently being published and will be on the shelves soon.
However, Albert is first and foremost a musician. Since the 60s, he has orchestrated around 400 records, he has composed theme songs for television, and about 200 songs for various artists. “During the 70s,” he adds, “I put out a number which sold 500,000 copies (Lamento), under the pseudonyms of Sam Fenering and Frédéric Monteil.” The hit was a slow instrumental, and it could be heard in every trendy club. |
Then, Albert was Artistic Producer at Eddy Barclay for many years. Albert composes still: “I have quite a few projects lined up for the next September,” he says, “Notably an album in Paris sung by my students… a CD of French folk songs such as “A la claire fontaine” or “Au clair de la lune” which I’ve revised.” At the top of this impressive list, Albert is currently an administrator at SDRM, a society of authors and composers which manages the rights of reproduction (the taking of CDs and audiovisuals), et in 2017 he will put out a method of singing which will be accompanied by a USB of original vocal exercises.
As a man who is always happy to transfer knowledge, he is always happy to discover new talents. Among others, he has introduced the world to Joyce Jonathan and Tal. He even confides that at the moment he is preparing two artists who he thinks will become well known in under a year.
The class I attend plays out in a leisure manner. On this day, there are two students, both women, and they know their song well. They sing together with a lighthearted and professional style. From time to time, Albert who accompanies them on piano offers a small wise word. There is a sweet relationship between teacher and pupils, and it seems like they all understand each other well. In no time at all, I too feel like breaking into song. As a teacher, Albert believes he is “enough of a musician-philosopher-humanist” to inspire his students “to go further and further!”