Biography
Navigating between modern jazz, latin influences, and intimate songwriting, MENALUA is carving out a unique path in the current French jazz scene. This group, which won awards in Vannes (1st prize at the 2024 Vannes National Talent Showcase) and then in Crest (1st prize at the 2025 Vocal Jazz Competition), surprises with its “ability to explore highly complex territories, while also being surprisingly accessible” (P-A Jonard, Longueur d’Ondes). The constant and ever-evolving dialogue between its members offers a true poetry of the moment.
A contraction of “Menina da Lua” (song by Renato Motha), MENALUA evokes both a dreamlike quality and the Brazilian music that has profoundly influenced the group's musicians in their artistic development. Their first album, “Premier Printemps” (First Spring), was released on June 6, 2025.
Distinctions:
1st prize from the Crest 2025 Vocal Jazz Competition
1st prize National Tremplin Vannes Echos Jazz
Finalists of the René Urtreger Jazz Prize at the Écuje 2024
Finalists of the Golden Jazz Trophy 2024
The musicians
Mathilde Gardien
Composition / Voice, piano, synthesizer
She began her musical career playing the drums, piano, and classical singing at the Conservatoire de Chambéry. This soprano is often noted for her pure and airy voice, a timbre that is rarely found in jazz. After studying at Sciences Po and starting a career in social work, her passion for jazz was confirmed at the Crest Festival, where she worked as an intern for 3 years.
She then studied vocal jazz with Manu Domergue at the Centre des Musiques Didier Lockwood and graduated in 2022. Beyond her various collaborations within the jazz scene, this singer-songwriter also works as co-leader of the vocal trio “La Mécanique des Songes”.”
Romain Salmon
Composition / Guitars
He gradually forged his identity under the influence of masters of classical music, jazz, and Brazilian music. Possessing two DEMs in classical and jazz, obtained at the Conservatoire de Rennes, he works primarily on the acoustic guitar, an instrument he especially loves to showcase. He has performed at numerous festivals (Jazz à Vienne, Vieilles Charrues, Jazz à Vannes…) and participated in the recording of ten albums. From 2019 to 2022, he perfected his practice at the Centre des Musiques Didier Lockwood with Pierre Perchaud. Other projects: Loucanta, Romain Salmon 5tet, Azulera Duo, Devera, Natah Big Band…
Matis Regnault
Contrabass
Initially a self-taught bassist, he then studied a professional course “Jazz and Contemporary Music” at the IMFP in Salon-de-Provence before studying the double bass at the Didier Lockwood Music Centre, from which he graduated in 2019. He was selected that same year to participate in the International Association of School of Jazz’s program, led by Dave Liebman. His numerous collaborations allow him to enjoy a great deal of experience on stage (France, Germany, Belgium, Italy and Switzerland) and in the studio (10 albums) in a wide aesthetic field (jazz, pop, traditional music, progressive rock, songs). Other projects: Off to the Luna, Twissome, Bob Passion, Antoine Spranger Trio, Sylvain le Ray Trio…
Basil Guéguen
Battery
Passionate about music from a young age, he started playing the drums at the age of 3, continued his musical studies and obtained a bachelor’s degree in music. His academic career was enriched at the Conservatoire de Rennes, where he obtained a Diploma in Musical Studies (DEM) in Jazz. Versatile and open to various musical horizons, he has performed at many festivals (Jazz à Vienne, Trans Musicales, Vieilles Charrues…) and has worked with multiple groups ranging from Brazilian and Malian music to pop, jazz, neo-soul and Breton music (Don Dias, Louisett, Natâh Big Band, Loucanta, Yeko…). He has participated in the recording of about twenty albums.