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COINCIDENCE |
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In the country of France a new and totally innovative instrumental jazz-rock band called Coincidence started gigging all over that country. Featuring the twin guitar sound of Jean-Pierre Llabador and his older brother by 4 years, Jean-Claude, Coincidence released two highly acclaimed studio albums of instrumental fusion when tragedy struck and Jean Claude was killed in a car crash. Following this devastating turn of events, Jean Pierre Llabador went on to a successful recording career beginning with his 1983 solo debut album simply entitled Coincidences, released on vinyl Lp in both Germany and the US, the latter on the then fledgling Breakthru’ Records label. Flash forward 40 years and we are quite lucky Jean Pierre Llabador is still with us. Following two heart attacks and then a car crash that almost took his life in the early 2020’s, Jean Pierre returns with a new record label called Castle Records with the promise of a new solo album on the way. Also of note is the variety of famous jazz and fusion guitarists signed in some way, shape or form by Jean-Pierre to his label, including his long-time friend Philippe Caillat. The bad news is that the car accident ended Jean Pierre’s guitar playing career in 2022. Even with such a harsh backdrop, in fact the new album he is planning, entitled 3:33 highlights his new music as played by a band with a series of guitar players and other musicians he enlisted to play his new compositions and arrangements.
With its emergent mix of jazzy prog fusion instrumentals interspersed with vocal performances from both Jean Pierre and Jean Claude, Coincidence: Archives 1973-1974 features 4 tracks with the entire CD/LP clocking in at 50 minutes, including the 30 minute "Glimpse" part 1 & 2, a 12+ minute track called “Astronaut”, along with a couple shorter connected tracks called “Suite Pt. 1” and “Suite Pt. 2”, clocking in total around 7 minutes. Featured on this rare Coincidence live album are the Llabador brothers, Jean-Pierre (electric lead guitars) and Jean-Claude (electric lead guitars and keyboards) with added support by Dominique Frasson-Cochet ( flute, sax, vocals), André Simantirakis (bass, vocals) and René Mirguet (drums, percussion). Long time Coincidence engineer Guy Simon is once again on hand and he’s done a fine job of the restoring the tape transfer to both CD and LP. Also reissued on CD for the first time by guitar maestro Jean-Pierre Llabador in 2024 are the only two studio albums by Coincidence, the mid 1970s band started by Jean-Pierre and his late brother Jean-Claude. First off Mets Tes Lunettes Et Ecoute Comme Ca Sent Bon! (Vol.1) is actually a reissue of the very first 1976 self-titled Coincidence Lp. This early instrumental jazz-rock fusion album has been reissued in 2024 on both Lp and CD with different cover art compared to the original Lp.
Filled with melodic instrumental guitar / keyboard tracks, the six track album clocks in at just under a half hour yet is among the truly memorable jazz-rock albums of the 1970s or in fact of any decade since or before. The greatest thing about this sadly short-lived band from France was the final Coincidence album Clef de Ciel (Key Of The Sky). Right up there with the truly groundbreaking instrumental French jazz-rock albums of the 20th century, the album, here billed as Mets Tes Lunettes Et Ecoute Comme Ca Sent Bon! (Vol.2) was Coincidence at its zenith. Here for the first time reissued in its original track lineup, Clef de Ciel has lost none of its sonic luster and infinite gleam. With the promise of a new Jean Pierre Llabador composed album on the horizon, these first three artifacts from the heyday of the long lost instrumental jazz fusion legends Coincidence is a perfect place to start.
2024 interview with Jean-Pierre Llabador
Jean-Pierre Llabador: I’m simply planning to compose and release albums, as many as possible before death comes… Again, that’s my new saying, I’m back and willing! All the best to you bro’ and to all the ones you love! mwe3: What was the inspiration in going back to release the 2024 CD release of Coincidence: Archives 1973-1974? Jean-Pierre Llabador: Actually, apart from the two Coîncidence albums released in the late 1970’s, I didn’t have any recordings of the band dating from the early Seventies when the band was created, which I felt sorry about because some good music was played by the band at that time… a sort of progressive as we used to say and heavy sound. mwe3: How would you describe the origins of Coîncidence to those that might have missed them all those years ago? Jean-Pierre Llabador: Coîncidence was founded near the end of 1972 by my brother Jean-Claude, myself and Dominique Frasson-Cochet. The band soon appeared in many concerts and festivals during that period and was playing quite regularly, opening concerts, opening a lot of times for well-known groups of that time such as Magma, Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band, Titanic, Soft Machine, Atoll, Little Bob Story, La Chanteuse, Nico, Bracos Band and Eleventh House with Larry Coryell. mwe3: Tell us about rediscovering the music for the Coincidence Archives album that just came out? Jean-Pierre Llabador: When I was trying to remember these years… I didn’t have any sound to listen to except from a few fragments of extremely poor quality, musically and technically, when I was trying to remember these years. A few months ago I happened to be on Facebook, to get in touch again with an old and very good friend, Gilles Claudin, who 50 years ago was the sound engineer of Coincidence.
I really think, when I listen to it, that it is a good testimony to my early years, I was 20 years old. Coîncidence disbanded when my brother Jean-Claude died. That was the end of it… the dream was over. mwe3: Just going back in your history, do you remember growing up in Algeria? I always found that a fascinating part of your history. What can you tell us about growing up with your family, mom, dad and your brother Jean-Claude? Also can you tell us how your wife and daughters are these days? Jean-Pierre Llabador: My Dad was born in Algeria, in Oran, in a Spanish family, which wasn’t yet of French nationality at the time. The whole family became French when the government at some point decided to give French nationality to all people coming from Europe. My mom belonged to a Swiss family and was also born in Oran, Algeria too. When they got married, they moved to a small harbor near Morocco called Nemours and now Ghazaouet. My father had a pharmacy there and this is where my brother and I were born and raised. We had quite a peaceful and happy childhood.
We got over this drama and had to adapt ourselves to a new life, environment… in other words a new starting life had to begin. This is the time when my brother and I began to play guitar. We found an old Spanish guitar that my Dad had and we started to bang a few chords. We worked quite a lot and, little by little, we progressed. This led to Coincidence. I met my lovely wife Annie and we have two great daughters. The three of them are well, thank God. mwe3: I remember being very excited by the first two Coincidence studio albums, the first self-titled album and then the Clef de Ciel album sometime in 1978 or early 1979. Can you share some of your reflections on the jazz-rock scene of the 1970s and how influenced you were by it?
mwe3: Tell us about the Coincidence Archives 1973-74. Interesting that there are only 4 tracks on the CD and Lp, yet it clocks in around 50 minutes. Was Coincidence Archives 1973-74 a good indicator of the group’s sound back then and how many gigs did you play as a band? Plus, this was recorded several years before the two Coincidence studio albums were released.
mwe3: Compared to the two Coincidence studio albums, Coincidence Archives 1973-74 features vocal tracks, sang in English. Tell us about writing and recording the live tracks with Jean-Claude and which brother took most of the lead vocal spotlights on which tracks? How did Jean-Claude gravitate toward keyboards, because the Coincidences albums were also trademarked by the double lead guitar work of both brothers. Tell us about the double neck (SG?) guitar that Jean-Claude played. What guitars did you feature most in Coincidence? Jean-Pierre Llabador: The vocal tracks featured Jean-Claude and myself. I was, let’s say, the main vocalist. In fact, Jean-Claude was older than me by four years. To be totally honest, I really can’t give you very precise information about things like who sings on which track and so on… I can only say that I can’t recognize my voice, it sounds so young. My brother began as a guitar player and soon developed a strong taste for the keyboards. On Coincidence Archives 1973-74 he already played both. He was a self-taught musician, so was I at the time. I later learned how to read and write music.
mwe3: It’s remarkable that “Glimpse” was never recorded live in the studio. Also it’s amazing that “Glimpse” clocks in around 30 minutes. Jean-Pierre Llabador: The fact that the track “Glimpse” is 30 minutes long is pure Coincidence! We never recorded this title in the studio because it has to be played live and loud! mwe3: Also, the track that follows “Glimpse” is called “Astronaut” / “Juggernaut”. Is that you or Claude (or both) singing? Can you recall the lyrics for “Astronaut” / “Juggernaut”. Interesting that those tracks featured cool vocals on them both, and “Suite” has vocals on it too. Is that you or Jean Claude on vocals on “Suite”? Jean-Pierre Llabador: Yes, “Astronaut / Juggernaut” was recorded live but at home. Jean-Claude and I both sing together as on “Suite”, although I am the main vocalist. I can’t remember the lyrics unfortunately. I would have to listen to the tracks too many times to be honest. mwe3: Following the release of the Archives CD tell us about the reissues that are planned of the two Coincidence studio albums and also what can you tell us about your album of all new music, written by you and played by other guitarists.
mwe3: Interesting that the Coincidence albums are packaged with the CD in a slipcase inside the Lp jacket with new names? Jean-Pierre Llabador: Yes, both will be LP’s + CDs. I wanted to change the artwork on both albums. This will give a new life on both albums. mwe3: I am sorry you had so many health problems. How did you overcome these problems? At times I feel like our ancestors are looking over us to help us. Jean-Pierre Llabador: It took me about four to five years to overcome all that shit really. But, I’m back and willing. Yes, I do believe strongly in ancestors and I cherish a lot of their memories and thank them to have given me great values and, above all a strong taste for arts and music in particular. mwe3: I know you said because of your accident you can’t play guitar anymore which is a great loss to the music world. But tell me about your new album which features a number of musicians playing your new music.
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By the mid 1970’s, the global jazz-rock fusion scene was entering full swing. In the early 1970s jazz-rock groups started popping up all over Europe thanks in no small part to the early ‘70s Stateside FM radio hit of “Hocus Pocus” by the Dutch band Focus, played everywhere on U.S. radio stations nationwide.
The other good news is that the first album for his new label is a rare live Coincidence album release entitled Coincidence: Archives 1973-1974. The fact that a live Coincidence tape was found is nothing less than a miracle, and for a live album from that period, the sound is quite okay and the music is excellent.
With Jean-Pierre (guitars) and Jean-Claude (keyboards, guitars) handling all the compositions and arrangements, this early Coincidence lineup also features Jean-Pierre Barreda (bass) and the late drummer Jacky Cataldo. Fittingly the Lp and CD reissue of this first Coincidence album is dedicated to both Jean-Claude and Jacky Cataldo. I can’t think of a more gracious gesture of gratitude by Jean-Pierre Llabador, the composer and guitar icon who suffered the loss of his older brother at such a young age.
mwe3: First of all, it’s great to have you back again Jean-Pierre. Tell us about your 2024 comeback. You have a mission statement about your comeback.
When he told me that he had a complete 30-minute, I couldn’t believe it! The quality wasn’t of a very high level, but we worked on it and here’s the result: this album Coîncidence Archives: 1973-1974.
Things changed quite a lot when the war for independence began and we had to move to France in a hurry in 1962, leaving behind us all our possessions.
Jean-Pierre Llabador: At that time, my brother and I were the leaders and composers of the band. We were listening to many progressive or jazz-rock bands. We didn’t yet at that time used the name fusion… mainly bands from the States or England. In France, actually, there weren’t so many bands playing that kind of music. I also think, with great modesty, that the two Coincidence studio albums are still fresh and energetic. I cherish them both.
Jean-Pierre Llabador: It’s pure magic to have been able to exhume the music of Coincidence Archives 1973-74. The great piece is “Glimpse”, a live concert of 30 minutes, non-stop. 600 people attended this gig that was recorded in Montpellier, the big town nearby mine. This is the greatest example of the band at that period one could find. I’ll never find a better musical testimony. That’s why there will ever be another Coincidence album anymore. Whoever would like to give a listen to the band, has the choice between three albums, the three of them are on sale on my site, 
In the band, I was strictly using one guitar, a Gibson Les Paul custom. My brother was using two guitars; a Fender Strat and the double neck. It was an Epiphone but we had changed the pickups and put very good Gibson ones instead. He also used a Fender Rhodes keyboard and later on many other synths.
Jean-Pierre Llabador: Yes, the two studio Coincidence albums art to be reissued on vinyl as a Lp + CD. Long time Coincidence engineer did the mix again and the mastering has been made by Christophe Henault. I’m still in touch with Guy who is an intimate friend.