(No Format / Universal Jazz / Arts and Crafts)
The question “Who is Gonzales?” can be answered in many ways. It may just depend on whom you ask. From “prankster rapper from the Berlin underground,” and, “workaholic Grammy-nominated arranger/producer” (for the Feist albums) to, “melancholic piano virtuoso” or  “softly powerful crooner,” he is clearly a man with many designations. The multi-talent, originally from Canada, immigrated to Berlin in 1998, where he quickly became one of the hippest remixers around (Björk and Daft Punk). Today, he continues to defy expectations with his genre-spanning albums, ranging from hip-hop to classical. He has been embraced by France, partly for this ability to cross musical boundaries, but largely for his true love of ‘Chanson Française,’ which he composes and produces with a passion and knowledge that often surpasses many French natives.

Videos taken from “Gonzales 27 - Le Guinnes World Record Concert” documentary produced by Maha Productions for France 3

This year, the musical genius added another title to his esteemed resume as he became the “Guinness World Record” holder for the longest solo concert, after playing 300 songs over an exhausting 27 hours. While his performance at OohLaLA won’t be quite that long, he will showcase his wide-ranging talent and influences, from 10cc and Elvis Costello, as heard on his latest French release, Soft Power, to Erik Satie and the French impressionist composers that inspired his forthcoming U.S. release, Solo Piano, sprinkled with ‘70s disco, underground hip-hop and sharp electro.

Visit his official website: http://gonzales.artistes.universalmusic.fr
Visit his MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/gonzpiration