Christian Vander (musician)

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Christian Vander

| image = MAGMA @ Roadburn Festival 2017 02.jpg

| image_upright = 1.2

| caption = Vander at the 2017 Roadburn Festival

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1948|2|21}}

| birth_place = Nogent-sur-Marne, Val-de-Marne, France

| genre = {{hlist|Zeuhl|progressive rock}}

| occupation = {{hlist|Musician|composer}}

| instrument = {{hlist|Drums|vocals|piano}}

| associated_acts = {{hlist|Magma|Stella Vander}}

}}

Christian Vander (born 21 February 1948) is a French drummer, composer, singer and founder of the progressive rock band Magma.

Career

Vander is known for his extended compositions, drumming, and shrill falsetto improvisational/scat singing. His music fuses jazz, rock, classical and operatic influences, and draws on the work of musicians as diverse as John Coltrane and Carl Orff.

Vander regards Coltrane as his greatest musical inspiration, and dedicated his 2011 album John Coltrane L'Homme Suprême to him as a tribute.{{Cite web|first=Christian |last=Vander |url=https://www.seventhrecords.com/CVANDER/A36/html/english.htm |title=John Coltrane, l'homme suprême |work=Seventh Records |access-date=2024-10-09}}

Personal life

Christian Vander is the adopted child of famous French jazz piano player Maurice Vander (who was a long time sideman of singer Claude Nougaro). Most of Vander and Magma's recorded work is still available through Vander's own record label, Seventh Records.

He was married to singer Stella Vander who released many EPs herself in the 1960s and has performed vocal duties for Magma since 1972."[https://thequietus.com/articles/27223-magma-interview-christian-stella-vander Speaking In Tongues: Magma Interviewed By Musicians]". The Quietus, 9 October 2019. Retrieved 30 May 201 They divorced in the 1980s, with speculations that this occurred in the hiatus years. Christian and Stella have a daughter, Julie, who has appeared on several Magma and Offering releases.{{Discogs artist|373802-Julie-Vander|Julie Vander}} Vander often appears on Magma albums under his Kobaïan name: Zebëhn Straïn dë Ğeuštaah.Liner Notes CD: Archiw I-II (Sudio Zünd (2008)), p. 34.