ASSOCIATION …
Founded in 1977, ARFI (Association à la Recherche d’un Folklore Imaginaire) is the oldest French, if not European, collective of jazz and improvised music musicians. ARFI’s longevity can be explained by the personalitý of its musicians, all improvisers and composers, and above all by the qualitý of their collective relationship, founded on a shared passion.

IN SEARCH …
Constantly renewed, of new energies in the making of music (by working on sound, form, the “domestication” of chance…), in opening up to other disciplines (cinema, dance, theater, literature, plastic arts, cooking, photography…) and other types of music: traditional (South Africa, Brazil, Ukraine…); popular (harmonies, brass bands, film music…); contemporary (European improvisers and composers, electronic music…).

… AN IMAGINARY FOLKLORE.
To affirm, in these times of obligatory modernitý, that we recognize ourselves in “popular” music (at least that which allows itself to be fertilized by the imagination), is a difficult and exciting wager. Meeting it requires both diversitý and cohesion, anarchy and discipline, doubt and confidence. So many contradictions that can only be sewn together with a true sense of collective purpose.