No neutrality on the harp

Maybe a week later he attended a Luther Allison blues concert in which a musician was invited on stage to play a harmonica, or blues harp, with the band.

“I was really impressed,” Maret said in a phone interview. “After that I was hooked.”

Those events occurred when he was 16 and a high school student in Geneva, Switzerland. A year later he wanted to change his major to music; Swiss high schools require students to declare majors, Maret said.

“They wanted me to play a chromatic instrument. That’s when I started playing a chromatic harmonica,” he said. “It was the best choice of my life. I had a great ensemble teacher. He was very inspiring. He trusted us. He made us feel good.”

	Grégoire Maret Quartet WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25 WHERE: Outpost Performance Space, 210 Yale SE HOW MUCH: $25 general public, $20 students and Outpost members at the Outpost, by calling 268-0044 or at the door

Maret has come a long way. He has a self-titled debut album on which he explores jazz, blues, Latin and other styles. And he’s just come off the road playing with the band of jazz vocalist Cassandra Wilson. Maret also performs with Herbie Hancock.

He said he’s been observing Hancock and Wilson to learn how to lead his own ensemble. Maret and his quartet will be in concert Thursday, Oct. 25, at the Outpost Performance Space. His fellow musicians are pianist Federico Gonzalez Peña, drummer Clarence Penn and bassist Matt Brewer, who is from Albuquerque.

“Matt is well known for playing upright bass. He also has a secret talent – playing electric bass. I have music that needs the electric. I think he will play both in the concert in Albuquerque,” Maret said. “The concert will be mostly music from my debut album.”