Christian Escoudé

Christian Escoudé (23 September 1947 – 13 May 2024) was a French Gypsy jazz guitarist.

Escoudé grew up in Angoulême and was of Romani descent on his father's side. His father was also a guitarist who was influenced by Django Reinhardt. When Escoudé was ten, his father began teaching him the guitar, and he became a professional musician at age fifteen. His style was a mix of bebop and gypsy jazz influences, featuring the use of vibrato, portamento, and fast runs.

In 1972, he started work in a trio with Aldo Romano. By the 1980s, he was in John Lewis's quartet. He also played with Philip Catherine for a time. In his forties, he signed with the French division of Verve Records. Bernard Lubat, and Aldo Romano. Later, he joined Didier Levallet's Swing String System and the Michel Portal Unit.

Death Escoudé died on 13 May 2024, at the age of 76.

Discography As leader/co-leader Reunion (Musica, 1976) Les 4 Éléments with Jean-Charles Capon (Musica, 1976) Christian Escoude & Alby Cullaz (Red, 1979) Return (Red, 1979) Gitane with Charlie Haden (All Life, 1979) – recorded in 1978 Gousti with Jean-Charles Capon (All Life, 1980) Gipsy's Morning (JMS, 1981) Trio (JMS, 1983) Christian Escoude Group Featuring Toots Thielemans (JMS, 1983) Three of a Kind (JMS, 1985) Gipsy Waltz (Mercury, 1989) Plays Django Reinhardt (EmArcy/Gitanes, 1991) Holidays (EmArcy/Gitanes, 1993) In L.A. (Verve/Gitanes, 1993) Cookin' in Hell's Kitchen (Verve/Gitanes, 1995) At Duc Des Lombards (Verve, 1997) A Suite for Gypsies (EmArcy/Gitanes, 1998) Charentes (Elabeth, 2001) Paris Ma Muse (Fremeaux, 2001) Ma Ya. Ya (Nocturne, 2005) 20 Ans De Trio Gitan: Live in Marciac (Nocturne, 2007) Le Nouveau Trio Gitan (Nocture, 2007) Catalogne (Plus Loin, 2010) Au Bois de Mon Coeur (Universal/EmArcy, 2011) Saint-Germain-Des-Pres/The Music of John Lewis (Universal, 2013)

As sideman Andre Ceccarelli, Ceccarelli (Carla, 1977) Louis Chedid, Ces Mots Sont Pour Toi (Philips, 1992) Jean Corti, Couka Mon (Slip, 2001) Michel Graillier, Libra (Musica, 1978) Jean-Marc Jafet, Mes Anges (Cristal, 2004) John Lewis, Mirjana (Ahead, 1978) John Lewis, Midnight in Paris (Emarcy, 1988) Guy Marchand, NostalGitan (Virgin, BRJ/EMI, 1998) Florin Niculescu, Plays Stephane Grappelli (Blujazz, 2008) Michel Portal, L'ombre Rouge (Saravah, 1981) Steve Potts, Musique Pour Le Film D'Un Ami (Un-Deux-Trois,1975) Martial Solal, Martial Solal Big Band (Gaumont, 1981) Rene Urtreger, Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen, Masters (Carlyne, 1987) Mike Zwerin, Not Much Noise (Spotlite, 1979)