Cortex (band)

Cortex is a psychedelic rock, jazz funk band formed in 1974. Cortex is known for polyrhythmic instrumentals and funk, bossanova, samba-jazz, and jazz grooves, mixed with atmospheric vocals.

Cortex
Cortex in 2023 from left to right: Alain Mion, Hidehiko Kan, Adeline de Lepinay, Mohamed Ouaraz
Background information
GenresFrench rock, Jazz-funk, Psychedelic rock
Years active1974 (1974)–1981 (1981), 2009 (2009)–present
LabelsTrad Vibe Records
Past membersAlain Mion, Alain Gandolfi, Mireille Dalbray, Alain Labib, Jeff Huttner, Jean Grevet

The band originally included the members: Alain Mion (pianist, singer, composer, arranger, leader), Alain Gandolfi (drummer, percussion, vocals), Mireille Dalbray (singer), Alain Labib (alto saxophone), and Jeff Huttner, quickly replaced by Jean Grevet (bass). The band members found each other when Alain Mion responded to a poster on a bulletin board at the Centre Américain in Paris, in which a guitarist and bassist stated that they were looking for musicians to play with.[1][2]

Cortex broke up in 1981, but was reformed by Alain Mion in 2009, with a rotating group of members when it performed in Europe at New Morning, Monaco’s Note Bleue, The Jazz Cafe, and Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide Winners Festival. The band also toured the US in 2022, performing at The Music Hall of Williamsburg in NYC, LODGE Room in Los Angeles, and the Desert Daze festival at the Lake Perris State Recreation Area in Riverside County, California.[3]

Cortex has been credited with having an influence on jazz and on hip hop and rap music through its heavy use in sampling. Artists who have sampled from Cortex include: Madlib, MF DOOM, Tyler, the Creator, Fat Joe, Rick Ross (Golden Record), Lupe Fiasco, Baby Keem, and Tyga. The website WhoSampled lists 181 songs that have sampled Cortex songs.[4]

Troupeau Bleu

Cortex's album Troupeau Bleu was recorded in 2 days, July 15-16, 1975 at Studio Damiens, Boulogne-Billancourt (France).[5] French singer Mireille Dalbray featured on almost all the tracks.

The track "Huit Octobre 1971" (1975) has been sampled in the songs: "One Beer" by Madvillain, MF DOOM, produced by Madlib (2004); "Visions" by Wiz Khalifa (2010), "Odd Toddlers" by Tyler, the Creator featuring Casey Veggies (2009), and others.[6]

The track "Chanson D'Un Jour D'Hiver" (1975) was sampled in the songs: Mural by Lupe Fiasco (2015); Mary by Curren$y (2013); Dead Presidents III by Logic (2012), and others.

The song "I Heard A Sigh" from the eponymous album was sampled by Damso (Platinum record), Masta Killa, Raekwon, and others.

Cortex reunited as Alain Mion & The New Cortex, for concerts at New Morning in 2009 and 2010, with the singer Adeline de Lépinay taking the role of Mireille Dalbray for songs from Troupeau Bleu.

Discography
  • Troupeau Bleu (Disques Espérance, Trad Vibe, 1976)
  • Les Oiseaux Morts / Back to Life (Disques Espérance, Trad Vibe, 1976)
  • Vol. 2 (Sonodisc, Trad Vibe, 1977)
  • Mary & Jeff (Sonodisc, Trad Vibe, 1977)
  • Pourquoi (Crypto/RCA, Trad Vibe, 1978)
  • Inédit '79 (Underdog, 2006)

Songs used in films
  • I Heard A Sigh, theme music for the film Drone Games (White Lion Films, France)
  • I Heard A Sigh, music from the film Doppelganger (Next Film - TVN S A, Poland)
  • Chanson d'un Jour d'Hiver, music from the film Little Trumpet (Little Trumpet Productions, USA)
  • L’Enfant Samba, music for the series Good Girls, (Universal TV, NBC, Netflix, USA)

References
  1. Ritchie, Matthew (17 October 2022). "A Conversation With Alain Mion of French Jazz-Fusion Legends Cortex". Passion of the Weiss. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  2. "Musique. "Troupeau bleu", l'album de jazz français que les rappeurs américains préfèrent". Courrier International. 13 December 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  3. "Cortex Lights Up the Jazz Scene". Relish. 6 December 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  4. "Tracks that Sampled Cortex". WhoSampled. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  5. "Troupeau Bleu". Trad Vibe. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  6. Lejarde, Arielle Lana (11 October 2022). "How Cortex's 'Troupeau Bleu' Became Hip-Hop's Favorite French Jazz Album". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
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