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Jannick Top is a French bassist and cellist, composer, arranger, musical director, and session musician, born in Marseille on October 4, 1947. He began his music education in the late 1960s, studying piano and cello, and won first prizes for both instruments by the age of 16. His transition to electric bass began when a bassist friend invited him to replace him for a session with a leading regional orchestra. Top innovatively tuned his bass from fifth to fifth, akin to a cello, revolutionizing the instrument's methodology, practice, and sound. In 1971, he formed a group following a significant meeting, and by 1973, he was performing in Paris, where he met drummer and composer Christian Vander, the leader of Magma. Top joined Magma and played nearly 200 concerts across France, Europe, and the USA over two years. He left in Summer 1974 due to the demanding lifestyle and financial instability of the band. He rejoined Magma in 1976 in an attempt to co-lead the band with Vander, which was a creatively intense period that significantly influenced Magma's sound. During this time, Top revealed in a music publication that he needed to find a "non-musical" job to support himself, leading him to a successful career as a sought-after session musician in France. He worked with numerous renowned artists, including Céline Dion, Francis Cabrel, Véronique Sanson, and
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