Claude THIRIFAYS

Claude Thirifays, born on September 10, 1947, in Saint-Marc, near Namur (Belgium), is an exceptional multi-instrumentalist, naturalized French in 1985.

Introduced to the accordion at the age of 7, he continued his musical education at the Royal Conservatory of Namur, studying clarinet, music theory, and later saxophone.

From 1967 to 1971, he performed on the stages of Club Méditerranée (Superbagnères, Cefalù, Tignes…), perfecting his art while engaging with diverse audiences. Very quickly, he embarked on an international career, moving from Parisian cabarets to world tours, from Japan to Africa, declaring:
"From a very young age, I was lucky enough to make it my profession and to travel the world… I’ve always had fun."

From 1985 to 1995, he was the saxophonist of the legendary group Kassav’, contributing to iconic albums such as Le Grand Méchant Zouk (1989).

At the same time, he developed his personal musical universe.

In 2017, he unveiled his solo project UPA – Bois Couleurs 2, a vibrant tribute to Brazilian and Latin music (bossa, choro, samba, afoxé, waltz).
"Saxophonist, flutist, clarinetist, oboist, accordionist… for me, wind is life."

This 14-track album, available on Bandcamp, Spotify, and Apple Music, reflects his sensitivity and cultural richness.

Even today, Claude Thirifays continues to share his passion, through concerts, collaborations, and the distribution of his music on international platforms.