Raphaël Bas

Raphaël Bas is a French-born, New Orleans–based guitarist and harmonica player known for his unique, genre-bending performances. This self-taught musician has built a bold style that fuses Gypsy jazz, vintage French flair, and the soul of New Orleans jazz—all with his own modern twist. Bas has toured internationally and shared stages with artists like Sam Andrew (Big Brother & the Holding Company) and Norbert Slama.

Bas co-founded the award-winning band Vavavoom and currently leads Harmonouche, a dynamic band whose music has been featured on two Putumayo compilations and showcased at top festivals including French Quarter Fest, Jazz Fest, and Festival International.

With his distinctive use of diatonic harmonica mounted on a rack and jazz guitar, Bas creates a rich, layered sound that resonates across cultures and genres. He performs weekly in New Orleans and recent gigs have taken him from the cobbled streets of France to the bustling stages of Chicago, Brooklyn, Portland and Miami.

Raphaël Bas is a boundary-breaking guitarist and harmonica player whose sound is as unique as his journey. Born in France and based in New Orleans since 2005, this self-taught musician has built a bold, genre-bending style that fuses Gypsy jazz, vintage French flair, and the soul of New Orleans jazz—all with his own modern twist. Performing with a harmonica rack and jazz guitar, Bas creates a layered, expressive sound that’s both nostalgic and refreshingly new.

Bas draws inspiration from a wide spectrum of icons—think Django Reinhardt’s fluid swing, Paco de Lucia’s fiery technique, the electric wildness of Jimi Hendrix, the Parisian charm of Jo Privat, and the emotive harmonica stylings of Toots Thielemans. This eclectic mix informs his vibrant and ever-evolving sound.

Bas hit the stage at just 15, making early waves at local venues and the iconic Printemps de Bourges festival. That experience exposed him to a rich variety of music, shaping his artistic lens and inspiring a lifelong drive to innovate.

Over the years, Bas has collaborated with standout artists like Sam Andrew (Big Brother and the Holding Company), legendary accordionist Norbert Slama, and jazz cornetist Jack Fine. His musical journey has taken him across the globe—from France to Australia, the UK, and throughout the U.S.

In 2006, Bas co-founded Vavavoom, helping breathe new life into the New Orleans music scene post-Katrina. Their sound made waves, with one of their albums named a “Best of the Decade” by WWOZ 90.7 FM. In 2007, Vavavoom earned the Big Easy Award for “Best Emerging Band.”

In 2010, Bas launched Harmonouche, a dynamic band blending Gypsy and traditional jazz, swing, French musette, blues and Latin grooves. The group has dropped three albums, with tracks featured on Putumayo’s Vintage France and Paris Café compilations. They’ve lit up stages at major Louisiana festivals including the French Quarter Festival, Jazz Festival, Satchmo Fest, and Festival International de Louisiane. In 2014, Harmonouche was spotlighted as the featured band for French Quarter Festival promo campaigns citywide.

These days, Raphaël Bas is keeping the momentum high. He performs weekly in New Orleans, is currently working on his debut solo album, and is deep into a fourth Harmonouche record. His recent gigs have taken him from the sunlit streets of Nice to the bustling stages of Chicago, Brooklyn, Portland, Miami and even back to his hometown of Bourges.