Sylvain Luc was born in 1965 in Bayonne, in the French Basque Country. Surrounded by the inspiring atmosphere of his eagerly music practicing brothers, he chose the guitar as his instrument at the age of 5. He was 9 when he entered the conservatoire of Bayonne. He rapidly acquired experience with his own groups and started recording his first album of Basque folklore "Elgarrekin" together with his brothers.In the Luc family they remember with tenderness the year when he made his stage debut as Joe Dassin with a local group.

Luc's preference for the strings was not limited to the guitar alone; by exploring the classical richness (with Jorge Cardoso - brazilian composer), he learned to appreciate the mandolin, the violin and studied the cello for 10 years. At the age of 12 he joined the group of his brother Gerard, accordionist, and made his second "family record", "Olinakarin". In the early 80's, when he was 15, he discovered jazz and starts his first group "Bulle Quintet". 1982 he gets an award at the Festival international de San Sebastian.

By the age of 20, he was the guitarist and bassist most in demand in the region and mixed with most diverse musicians, attended his first class as arranger and obtained his first singing diploma at the Conservatoire of Bayonne.

In 1985, he met Marie-Ange Damestoy and became her arranger-guitarist-bassist. 'Two years of co-operation and success which bring them the nomination for "Revelation 97" (discovery 97) at the Spring of Bourges.

In 1988, he who has been trained by his love of eclecticism, the atypical musician, he who showed his love of Basque folklore and Brazilian music, classical music and "le musette", decided to continue his musical journey in the effervescent life of Paris.

His experience kept growing - he arranged, composed and played for the singer Benoit Cazenave, then he played the bass in the trio of Richard Galliano and Francis Lassus, accompanied the Argentine singer Jaïro prepared his proficiency in the classical guitar with Michel Sadonowski at the UMIP, accompanied in the studios Moustaki, Philippe Leotard, Romain Didier, etc. ...
The Paris jazz world cannot afford to ignore such potential - in 1989, he worked especially with Jean Marc Jafet and Andre Ceccarelli and in the following year he replaced Louis Winsbert in the group of the trumpeter Eric Le Iann. It was the time of traveling in its proper sense - concerts, tours, international festival follow.

1991 was the year of meeting Sylvain Marc and recording the album "5/5". He also contributed to the album "Solea" of Jean-Pierre Como and played the bass in the quartet of Louis Winsberg on his tour through France and Africa.

1993 marked the release of his first album at Transat, "Piaia" and his co-operation with Jos‚ Boto and les Etoiles. For "Piaia" Sylvain Luc and Transat have gone to their limits. Following his inspirations during two recordings days, Sylvain chose the spontaneous compositions and selected the recordings made, the best are the first ones... and the magic has worked. "Piaia" is a one-hour journey into emotion, is love of music, is sensitivity, a long journey. This album is distributed by Night & Day.

Eclecticism is a characteristic of Sylvain Luc when it comes to musicians who inspired him - Keith Jarret, Egberto Gismonti, Joe Pass, Gabriel Faure, John Scofield, Paco de Lucia, Maurice Ravel, Jeff Beck, Pat Beck, Pat Metheny, Allan Holdswoth and Django Rheinhardt with a special fondness for J.S. Bach and Stravinsky as well as for the French Bireli Lagrene, Marcel Azzola, Joe Rossi, Khalil Chahine and Louis Winsberg. And Sylvain met Catherine Lara. It was like a strike of lightening and together they recorded the album "Maldonne" with Thierry Eliez, Pino Palladino and Andy Newmark.
In 1994, he increased the number of his recordings with Bertrand Richard, Antoine Illouz, Jean-Marc Jafet, Jacques Higelin. He accompanied Al Jarreau (for the TV-programmes "Taratata" and "La cigale et la fourmi) together with Steve Gadd, Neil Larsen, Dominique Bertram..)
At the Cannes Festival Michel Legrand invited Sylvain Luc to open the evening as a soloist‚ of Nina Simone. Emotion!

In 1995, he wrote, arranged and produced the album "Melomanie" along with Catherine Lara.. But it was also the beginning of a close co-operation with Robert Godin, the start of tours, concerts, and demonstrations for music aficionados and the promotion of the guitar. In the caves of Paris, the number of duos, trios, and quartets, especially with Francis Lassus, was to be increased. Great jazz evenings, the music was sophisticated and precise, but for Sylvain it was limitless.
In 1995-96, numerous singers, musicians and composers consulted him - William Sheller, Francoise Hardy, DeeDee Bridgewater, Mario Canonges, Nelson, Fabienne Thibault, G?rard Berliner, Jean-Marc Jafet, Lokua Kanza, Michel Legrand...

Together with Catherine Lara he wrote the music for the TV film "Terre Indigo", and still in 1996 he participated in a new and original creation of the album "Guitarre Attitudes" (jazz influence-13bis Record). As a bassist he contributed to his the album of his friend Louis Winsberg, "La danse du vent" (distributed by IHL).

At the same time solo concerts for Godin label were successfully continued, and Sylvain worked together with Manu Katch‚ on the music for the film "Le Demenageur". At the beginning of 1998, Sylvain was invited to play for the album of Lokua Kanza. In April 1998 (from the second to the eighth) he gave a number of memorable concerts at the Sunset Jazz Club of Paris appearing on stage with Gerard Luc, Bireli Lagrene, Louis Winsberg, Andre Ceccarelli, Francis Lassus . Then in June he began his solo tour in the USA and in Canada..

Since the beginning of 1998 he has been increasing the number of his solo concerts in France and abroad (Nancy Jazz Pulsations; Jazz d'Or; Festival de Jazz de Tourcoing; Festival de Guitarre d'Issoudun; Festival d'Aulnay sous Bois).

In January 1999, upon request, he made recordings for the new album of Andre Ceccarelli; afterwards he produced together with Bireli Lagrene, John Mc Laughlin, Vincete Amigo at the MIDEM de CANNES 1999.

In August, the same year, together with his brothers Serge and Gerard he recorded an album whose themes dealt with French music and Basque folklore.

Dreyfus Jazz released Trio Sud, the third CD by Sylvain Luc. His two previous releases – Duet, with fellow guitarist and compatriot Bireli Lagrene; and Sud, featuring the trio – have created an international buzz, spurred on by the gypsy new wave.

Sylvain Luc currently lives in Paris and is a remarkable musical personality in the artistic life of Paris. He is an important figure in the jazz world bringing innovative aspects of improvisation on the guitar. . He is one of the most sought after jazz musicians nowadays and is constantly on demand at jazz festivals all over Europe and other continents