Manu Le Prince – Biography

Described by France Info as "one of France's finest Latin Jazz voices," Manu Le Prince has established herself over the years as a truly borderless artist. A vocalist with a warm, sensual tone, singer-songwriter and gifted interpreter, she brings her own distinctive personality to jazz standards, giving them a fresh and contemporary dimension.
Brazilian at heart and of Anglo-Argentine heritage, Manu has shared her life for more than twenty years between Paris and Rio de Janeiro, naturally blending the jazz that shaped her childhood with Brazilian and world music traditions. The result is a vibrant and colorful musical journey that reflects both her roots and her artistic curiosity.<
Having performed with renowned groups such as Tangerine, Magma, Odeurs, Urban Sax, and Boto e Novos Tempos, Manu has also built an acclaimed solo career, releasing eight albums under her own name.
Early Years

Jazz has been part of Manu's life since childhood. Her English mother would lull her to sleep singing Cheek to Cheek, while filling their home with the sound of jazz piano. Singing came naturally, and at the age of nineteen she made her professional debut in London.
After returning to France, she settled in the south of the country before joining several major touring productions. She performed with the legendary French group Odeurs, appeared at the Olympia concert hall, toured with Christian Vander's celebrated progressive jazz-rock band Magma, performed as lead soprano with Urban Sax—including the historic Versailles Summit performance—spent a month at the Olympia with Bernard Lavilliers, and later joined the Brazilian ensemble Boto e Novos Tempos, before creating her own group.

A Life Between France and Brazil

Following an extended stay in Brazil and the birth of her first son, Manu began developing her own musical identity through original compositions created in collaboration with Francis Lockwood, Daniel Goyone and Rosinha de Valença. This resulted in her first Brazilian-inspired album, Agora (EMI, 1991), featuring original co-written compositions with Rosinha de Valença, Tatau Caetano and renowned percussionist Robertinho Silva.
Over the years, numerous trips to Brazil led to lasting friendships and collaborations with legendary musicians including Hermeto Pascoal, Robertinho Silva, Raul de Souza and many others.
In 1988, Manu met Brazilian drummer Tatau Caetano (known for his work with Maria Creuza, Johnny Alf and Dick Farney), who became both her musical partner and companion for many years. Together they founded the Manu Le Prince Quartet, alongside pianist Francis Lockwood and bassist Carlos Werneck. This ensemble recorded the acclaimed album Madrugada, released in 2003 (Next Music), reissued in 2006 (Nocturne) and again in 2008 (Plaza Mayor).

Deeply inspired by Brazilian music while remaining rooted in the jazz tradition of her childhood, Manu performs regularly throughout Europe and Brazil.

Musical Activities

Throughout the 1990s, Manu toured extensively across France with the Brazilian carnival troupe Mister Bouff.

In 1998 she created and curated Brésil sur Seine, a year-long series of Brazilian concerts aboard the Seine riverboat Six-Huit in Paris's Latin Quarter, welcoming leading Brazilian and French musicians.

That same year, she was invited by the Paris public transport authority (RATP) to represent Brazil during the 1998 FIFA World Cup celebrations, performing four major concerts at Place de la Concorde.

Since 2004, Manu has also taught numerous masterclasses, notably at the Bill Evans Piano Academy in Paris.

Between 2004 and 2007, she was artist-in-residence at the Arbuci Jazz Club in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, where she also served as artistic programmer.

She is regularly invited to perform at prestigious private events, including celebrations for internationally acclaimed author Paulo Coelho and France's Molières Awards.

Discography Highlights

Agora (1991) – EMI

Manu's debut album under her own name introduced her original Brazilian repertoire, recorded with pianists Francis Lockwood and Daniel Goyone, featuring compositions co-written with Rosinha de Valença and Tatau Caetano, alongside master percussionist Robertinho Silva.

Madrugada (2003 / 2005 / 2010)

Praised by critics upon each release and reissue, Madrugada celebrates the richness of Brazilian jazz. The album features Francis Lockwood, Carlos Werneck, Hermeto Pascoal, Raul de Souza, Cacau de Queiroz and drummer Tatau Caetano. Its success led to numerous tours throughout France and abroad.

Tribute to Cole Porter (2008)

Inspired by the songs that accompanied her childhood, Manu recorded a tribute featuring seventeen Cole Porter classics. The album includes Alain Jean-Marie, Gilles Naturel and John Betsch, with guest appearances by Stéphane Belmondo, Didier Lockwood and Rhoda Scott. It received outstanding reviews and was warmly recommended by renowned jazz journalist, pianist and radio producer Claude Carrière.

Bossa Jazz For Ever (2013)

Following many years of regular touring in Brazil with outstanding musicians including Arismar do Espírito Santo, Kiko Continentino, Filo Machado, Sergio Barrozo, Pascoal Meirelles and arranger-saxophonist Idriss Boudrioua, Manu recorded Bossa Jazz For Ever in Rio de Janeiro.
Dedicated to Johnny Alf, one of the pioneers of bossa nova, the album has become a reference among lovers of Brazilian jazz. Manu subsequently performed at prestigious Brazilian venues and festivals, including SESC theatres, Carnaval na Contramão (SESC Pinheiros), the Penedo Winter Jazz Festival (2014–2019), Rio Jazz & Blues Festival, the Olympic Games cultural programme in Rio (2016), and the Ibitipoca Jazz Festival in Minas Gerais (2019).

In a Latin Mood (2017)

Taking time between recordings to allow each project to mature, Manu collaborated with Argentine percussionist and arranger Minino Garay on an album of original songs featuring some of Paris's leading jazz musicians.
The repertoire includes compositions by Baptiste Trotignon, Grégory Privat, Giovanni Mirabassi, Lalo Zanelli, her son Julian Le Prince-Caetano, accordionist Marc Berthoumieux and jazz legend Kenny Barron.
The album was followed by live broadcasts on TSF Jazz, showcases at New Morning during the Jazz sur Seine Festival, Jazz Radio in Lyon, the Blue Note Rio, and a return to New Morning in Paris.

Children of the Night – Tribute to Wayne Shorter (2022)

Recorded in Meudon with Leonardo Montana, Felipe Cabrera, Lukmil Perez and arranger/saxophonist Irving Acao, this tribute to Wayne Shorter received the composer's personal encouragement, with Manu writing lyrics to four of his compositions.
The album was unanimously praised by the specialist press, earning Jazz Magazine's "Choc" award and selections by FIP Radio and Le Monde.
The official release concert took place at New Morning in Paris on September 21, 2022, followed by a Brazilian launch at Blue Note Rio on March 2, 2024.

Recent Projects

2024 – Bossa Jazz For Ever was reissued by Frémeaux and celebrated with concerts at the Blue Note clubs in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.

2026 – Terra Canta is released by Frémeaux in August 2026.

Album Release Tour