Alain Mion


Alain Mion is a French pianist, composer, arranger, jazz singer, who serves as leader of the band Cortex.

Musical career

Influenced by Bobby Timmons, Ray Charles and Les McCann, his style varies between jazz, soul jazz and "funky music".
Mion created the jazz funk group Cortex in 1974, before embarking upon a career under his own name in 1982.
Cortex's albums "Troupeau Bleu" and Volume 2 have been re-released several times and sampled by many hip-hop artists, rappers and DJs. Artists who have sampled Cortex include: Madlib, Fat Joe, DJ Day, MF DOOM, Wiz Khalifa, Curren$y, Mellowhype, Tyler The Creator, Rick Ross, and Lupe Fiasco.
Mion's album's "Pheno-Men", "Alain Mion in New York" recorded with David Binney and Marc Johnson, and "Some Soul Food" recorded in Stockholm with Patrik Boman and Ronnie Gardiner, have been used as a theme for multiple radio programs.
In 2008, Mion appeared with a new group, Alain Mion FunKey Combo then with his new group Alain Mion & The New Cortex which reunited for concerts at New Morning in 2009-10, with the singer Adeline de Lépinay reprising the role originally performed by Mireille Dalbray on the Troupeau Bleu album.
Filmed in concert and broadcast by Mezzo TV, the group's repertoire included both new and old compositions of Alain Mion, reflected in the new album "Let's Groove", released on Trad Vibe Records and presented during a concert in Paris at Petit Journal Montparnasse en 2012.
Alain Mion's and Cortex's records are often played on contemporary jazz stations such as KCRW in Los Angeles and The Jazz Groove Radio in San Francisco.

Discography

With Cortex

  • Troupeau Bleu LP
  • Mary & Jeff Single
  • Les Oiseaux Morts Single
  • Vol. 2 LP
  • Caribou Single
  • Pourquoi LP
  • Meddley : Mary & Jeff-Devil's Dance Maxi
  • Cuvée Spéciale LP
  • Best of Cortex CD
  • Cortex Inédit '79 CD + digital album
  • Cortex Inédit '79 "Japanese limited edition" + bonus track LP
  • The Unreleased Versions : "Les Oiseaux Morts" + "Mary & Jeff" Single

    Under his own name

  • Phéno-Men, T.Bones Square Single
  • Phéno-Men, All Along Maxi
  • Phéno-Men LP+K7
  • No'Mad, Un autre Be Bop Single
  • No'Mad LP+CD
  • Alain Mion in New York CD
  • Some Soul Food CD
  • Alain Mion Solo CD à paraître
  • Alain Mion Trio live on tour in Europe CD
  • Alain Mion & His FunKey Combo, Groovin’ in Paris digital album
  • Alain Mion & The New Cortex "Let's Groove" LP

    Re-releases

  • Cortex Troupeau Bleu CD et Vinyl
  • Cortex Volume 2, CD et Vinyl
  • Alain Mion in New York CD
  • Some Soul Food CD
  • Pheno-Men digital album
  • Some Soul Food digital album
  • Alain Mion in New York digital album
  • Cortex Troupeau Bleu nouvelle réédition CD + Vinyle + digital album
  • Cortex Pourquoi LP + CD + digital
  • Trilogie de Cortex Trad Vibe Records/Pusher Distribution, Vinyle et CD

    Other albums and compilations

  • La Guêpe, Vol.1 CD et VinyleSavoir Faire CD et Vinyle
  • Opération Heritage Vinyle
  • Sound of Music CD
  • Compilation Park Hyatt Tokyo Airflow CD et Vinyle
  • Compilation Nightmares on Wax "Late Night Tales", en compagnie de Quincy Jones, et Tom Scott - CD et Vinyle
  • Sensations Louisiane CD
  • Jazz Bar 2005 CD
  • French Groovy Jazz digital album
  • French Cool Jazz digital album
  • French Latin Jazz digital album
  • Coffret "5 CD Gospel" CD
  • French Piano Jazz digital album
  • French Organ Jazz digital album
  • French Blue Jazz digital album
  • Timeless, Park Hyatt Paris Vendôme CD
  • Music for silent movies, vol. 2 digital album
  • Modern Gospel & Negro spirituals digital album