Since his first album, Oxygene, debuted in 1977, French new age/electronic musician Jean-Michel Jarre has helped pioneer modern electronic and ambient music.

Born in Lyon in 1948, Jarre, the son of film composer Maurice Jarre, started learning piano at the age of five. By the late '60s, Jarre was an accomplished musician and scholar and had played in several bands. In the early '70s he became fascinated with electronic synthesizers, and started incorporating ambient textures into his music. By the time Oxygene was released, Jarre had revolutionized the concept of electronic music. His sophomore effort, Equinoxe, further boosted his reputation as the world's foremost electronic musician.

After recording another studio album, Magnetic Fields, in 1981, Jarre released Concerts in China, a live album culled from five record-breaking performance in Beijing. Jarre has gone on to release 13 more albums, including two more live records. His latest release, Odyssey Through O2 demonstrates some of his impact on the world of modern electronica, and features some of his greatest hits remixed by today's top DJs and electronic artists.

(Source: "Rolling Stone Magazine")

Jean Michel Jarre TIMELINE:

Jean Michel Jarre was born on 24th August 1948. in Perrache, Lyon. His parents are Maurice Jarre (awarded composer for film music, like Doctor Zhivago, Lawrence Of Arabia, Ghost) and France Pejot.

In 1953 Maurice Jarre went to America and Jean Michel Jarre starts to learn piano lessons

In 1960 Jean Michel Jarre studied on Paris Conservatoire under Jeannine Rueff

In 1964 Jean Michel Jarre went to see "Denny Logan & The Pirates", after which he set up his first school band "Mystere IV", which won 1st price on Paris Street Festival.

In 1967, Jean Michel and his new band "The Dustbins" feature in a small party scene for the film "Des Garcon Et Des Files".

In 1968 Jean-Michel finishes his thesis on comparative literature entitled "The Faust Of Literature and Music" with main emphasis on Goethe and Berlioz. Short while after, Jean Michel leaves the Paris Conservatoire, and meets a person which will change his way of music - Pierre Schaeffer, the director of G.R.M (Groupe de Recherches Musicales). When he joined G.R.M he was introduced to electroacoustic music and techniques. With this knowledge he recorded his first track "Happiness is a Sad Song" for the Maison The Culture.

In 1969 his first electro-acoustic single is released - "La Cage", and then in 1970 another electro-acoustic track is released - "Erosmachine", which is later used as a part of Chronologie part 2.

In 1971 with AOR, a piece specially made for Opera, here he becomes the youngest person which ever played in Paris Opera, and the first person who ever played electronic music in Opera.

In 1972 he meets Francis Dreyfus. Deserted Palace, Jarre first album is released. This was his first and experimental album. In the same year he compose the soundtrack for Jean Chapot's film "Les Granges Brűlées", staring Alain Delon and Simone Signoret. These two albums were released on LP

In period 1972-1975 he was doing commercials for TV, ballet and he was lyricist for other artist. In 1974 he meets Michel Geiss, who made instruments like Matri Sequencer and Digi Sequencer

In 1976 he released album "Oxygene", which becomes the top 5 albums worldwide. Today, this album is still popular, and up till these days, this album is sold in more than 12 millions of copies. For this album he received the the award "Grand Prix Du Disques" from Charles Cross Academy. By researching the fans of his music, this album is consider as the best album he ever made.

In 1977 Polydor license the "Oxygene", and other future recordings for release around the world.

In 1978 he released his new album "Equinoxe" which was a big success. Jean Michel Jarre's music is used in the Peter Fleischmann's movie "The Illness of Hamburg" and he marries the British film star Charlotte Rampling.

In 1979 a million people attend the Jean Michel Jarre concert at Place de la Concorde in Paris, on 14th July. This show was broadcasted in Eurovision. After the concert Jean Michel receives the medal for musical broadcasting from S.A.C.E.M for contribution of France Music. Tracks from Oxygene were used in in Peter Weir's film "Gallipoli" starring Mel Gibson.

In 1981 he released his third album "Magnetic fields", two weeks after release of this album, it entered in top 10 albums in every European country. In the same year, he done Concerts Peking and Shangai, Jean Michel is first Western musician to be invited to post-Mao China. The concert has huge success, one of the reasons was that "Oxygene" and "Equinoxe" were first were first non-Chinese albums played on radio. he becomes the honorable citizen Republic Of China.

In 1982 new "The Concerts In China" album is released, a double album that was a sounds of Concerts in Peking and Shangai. In the same year he entered in Guinness Books Of Records for largest number of people ever attend on some concert.

In 1983 new album is released "Music For Supermarkets" which was sold in auction for 10000Ł. the album was released in only one single copy, and before the auction this album was broadcasted in Radio Luxemburg. He entered again in Guinness Books Of Records for largest amount of money for a record that has been sold. Some works from this album were released in future albums.

In 1984 he made fantastic album "Zoolook". This album was something completely new in Jarre's music and the world music also. The album was voted for the best instrumental album in United States and France. This album was one of the first album which was printed on CD.

In 1986 one of the most spectacular concert in history of music, Jean Michel celebrate the 150th birthday of city Houston in April 5th, and the 25th birthday of NASA. There he presents his new album "Rendez-Vous". New album was presented in front of about half million Texans, and Jean Michel became the honorable citizen of Houston. In October 5th Jean Michel performs the concert in honor of the visit of Pope John-Paul II in his hometown, Lyon. After blessing the town Lyon, concert started. In the same year, The Guinness Books Of Record recognize about 1.3 millions of people which attend on Concert Houston.

In 1987, from the Concerts in Houston and Lyon, a new album came out "Concerts In Houston/Lyon" he also received the award for the nest instrumental album "Rendez-Vous", and also he received the award for the best for the best musical spectacle for Houston concert.

In 1988 he released new album "Revolutions", historical album dedicated to revolutions, a combination between Arabian music, technology and revolt. He promote his new album in Docklands, which was firstly canceled because of weather conditions, the concert was scheduled for September 24th, but since weather was bad, he split the concert in October 8th and 9th.

In 1989 he realized the album "Jarre Live" from Dockland concert. Francis Dreyfus repromote a Jean Michel music with a special promotion entitled as "Jean Michel Jarre - The Laser Years".

In 1990, Jean Michel Jarre release new album "Waiting for Cousteau", a tribute to oceanographer Jacques Ywes Cousteau. In same year he also performs the new concert Paris - La defense - City In Concert. This concert was attended by 2 millions people, and he again entered into Guinness Books Of Records for largest amount of people.

In 1991 a compilation "Images" was released.

In 1993 he released a new album "Chronologie", and he also presents Europe in Concert, his tour across the fifteen major cities, this concert has huge success in these cities. He was nominated for Ambassador of Goodwill by UNESCO

In 1994 he again went to China, where he gave a new concert in Hong Kong, and he published a new album "Hong Kong".

In 1995 he gives the first in the series of "Concerts Pour La Tolerance", a concert for celebrating 50th anniversary of UNESCO. In the same year a new album was published "Jarremix", album which contain a remixes of his tracks. He is decorated "Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur" by the French government.

In 1997 a new album "Oxygene 7-13" was released, and he also released a double box CD set "Complete Oxygene". In September he performs concert in Moscow, a concert for 850th anniversary of Moscow. In December 1997 he released a limited special edition, which contained the Oxygene and Oxygene 7-13 tracks mixed together, there was also a new track called "Oxygene In Moscow". This album was only available for 3 months.

In 1998 a new album came out, album which contains a remixes of Oxygene 7-13 tracks - "Odyssey Through O2". On the official album for Football World Cup 1998, he made a new Rendez-Vous 98 track, a remix of his Rendez-Vous 4 track. On 14th July Jean Michel Jarre celebrates with one million people France's World Cup football victory in Paris at the foot of the Eiffel Tower with his performance Electronic Night.

In 31st December 1999 Jean Michel Jarre presents a Twelve Dreams To The Sun, a concert for celebration of new millennium in 3 great Egyptian pyramids in Cairo.

In 2000, a new album "Metamorphoses" was presented, album with the vocals of Laurie Anderson, Sharon Corr (The Corrs) and Natasha Atlas.

In 2001 Jean Michel Jarre teams up with the science fiction writer Arthur C. Clark, to celebrate 2001 Rendez-Vous In Space, a concert premiered in Okinawa, Japan. In the same year he also had concert in Acropolis, Athens, Greece.

2002 - Aero Concert in Denmark.



thanks to: http://www.advancedmusic.com.au/forum/

A imas li nesto o Robertu Majlsu (Robert Miles) :

Ipak je Jean-Michelle Jarre ćale.

Onaj koncert iz moskve je zaista jedan od najvecih koncerata u istoriji, neverovatno .. cak i sa kasete

JMJ... jako dobra muzika...

Straota od muzike... danas sam pustao diskografiju opet...