BONNEFOY, Carine

Carine Bonnefoy is a French jazz musician of Polynesian origin, known for her work as a pianist, composer, arranger, and orchestra conductor. Born on April 17, 1974, in Toulon, France, she initiated her musical journey at age seven by studying piano under Yvan Belmondo and Élisabeth Couette, eventually expanding her skills to include the saxophone. She later relocated to Paris to pursue musicology at the Université Paris-Sorbonne alongside formal jazz studies at the prestigious Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris.
Her professional performance career launched with extensive international tours spanning Australia, Polynesia, and Europe. As a versatile collaborator, she has recorded alongside jazz giant Bob Mintzer and contributed to various creative projects featuring renowned artists such as Joe Lovano, Walt Weiskopf, and Kenny Wheeler. In 1998, she established her first quintet, making a distinct mark on the contemporary jazz scene with the release of their debut project, Something To Change.