Biography
Born in 1972, Olivier Cima started to play guitar at the age of 14. He briefly studied in various musical institutions (Academy, private school, internship, and workshop) where he primarily concentrated on classical, rock and jazz music. This initiation in various musical genres and guitar styles asserted his heterogeneous taste and, lead him to projects as various as jazz and funk-metal. Yet, he holds a particular fondness for flamenco.
1998
He creates the flamenco pop group “Amistad” with which he tours during 6 years in Belgium and abroad (Holland, France, Italy, Reunion Island…)
Since 2000, His numerous travels between Belgium and Spain and encounter with excellent artists such as Manolo Franco, Jose Luis Balao, El Carbonero, Pascual de Lorca, Emilio Maya, Ricardo Rivera have unequivocally further his musical progress.
2002
He is invited for a series of concert in Italy for the “RASALI” group which he eventually becomes a member as a guitarist, orchestrator, producer and artistic director.
2003
Changing tendency and focal point, he creates with Olivier Gregoire (D.J.Gregg/Kolombo/Loulou Players) the “Duo Varial” group which proposes a mixture of electronic music filled with electronic and classical guitar.
He also starts “Mickael & The Black Beat”; a delirious group revisiting the old black standards of the sixties and seventies.
During the same year, he imposes himself as a flamenco guitarist while accompanying the flamenco dancer Marisol Valderrrama (sometimes sharing the stage with Tomalito, El Torta and, India Martinez) throughout her tour in Belgium and abroad (Holland, France, Italy, Taiwan).
He also joins the Spanish group “Chico y Altamira” which he accompanies for 2 years in all the major Ferias in Belgium and neighboring countries.
2004
He plays with the pop-rock singer “Marka” and accompanies him in some of his concerts in Grand place de Bruxelles and New York.
He also appears in shows for children; “Christian Merveille”, ‘Libre Comme L’air”, “Sur Le Bout Des Doigts” and with Raphy Raphael in “A Choeur Ouvert”.
2005
He is hired in the Brussel tablao “El Rincon d’España” to accompany the singer Miguel Fernandez. He occasionally, also works with groups such as “Turdus Philomenos” et “Dazibo.”
In July, he participates in the guitar festival of Cordoba to enrich his understanding of the Flamenco dance art. There, he also follows a Master class guitar composition with the Brazilian maestro Egberto Gismonti.
2006
Duo Varial first album “Rue De Champagne” is released under the French label Ultra Vista.
He starts production with the Catalan singer Anna Rubau.
Occasionally, he leads workshops at the “Jazz Studio” in Anvers.
In April, he takes part of the ‘Centre culturel of Huy” production where he shares the stage with 15 others guitarists from other horizons.
He visits once more Cordoba for a Master class with the Brazilian guitarist, author and compositor; Toquinho.
2007
RTBF (Belgian French Radio Television) produce his solo project which is featured on “Le monde est un village 8” and which he presents in April at the “Theatre 140” in Brussel.
Simultaneously, he records with the Irish singer last album Charles Jarvis which he presents during his Belgium September tour.
Concurrently, he takes part of the latest project of the artist Sandrine Collard; “The ideal husband” at the Botanique de Bruxelles.
2008
After 4 months of preparation, he presents in January, Raphy Raphael, latest show “Zahori.”
In February, he shoots the first “The Ideal Husband” clip, “The Ritornello.”
In May, his first solo album “Mar y Sol” is released and presents it in Belgium for about a month.
In June, he records the homonym album “Zahori” from Raphy Raphael’s show.
2009
This year starts with a winter touring featuring 10 shows of the “Mar y Sol” album, at various cultural centers of the French community of Belgium.
