Léon Francioli has passed away
The Lausanne music scene has lost one of its leading figures in Léon Francioli. The double bassist, pianist, cellist and guitarist died on March 9 of cancer.
After studying piano and double bass at the Lausanne Conservatory, Léon Francioli worked in the studio in both rock and classical music. He was a founding member and lead guitarist of the group Les Aiglons, with whom he recorded several albums for Barclay's Golf Drouot label from 1963 to 1965. In 1970, he released his first album under his own name, with drummers Alain Petitmermet and Pierre Favre, guitarist Pierre Cullaz and saxophonist Alan Skidmore. Michel Portal called on him for a concert in Nantes and at the Châteauvallon festival (1972).
In 1982, he helped found the BBFC (with Jean-François Bovard on trombone, Daniel Bourquin on reeds and Olivier Clerc on drums). In 1984, he also played with Pierre Favre and Stan Tracey. Film music composer (Les petites fugues, Le Bus...), he also works for dance companies.
In 1995, he was awarded the Grand Prix of the Fondation vaudoise pour la culture. Since 1991, he and other musicians have created a number of concert-spectacles (Border Line, Le Cirque, Une saison en enfer, Amnésie Internationale, Délices des Jardins, in particular).
