lapis lazuli

Semiprecious stone valued for its deep-blue colour caused by the presence of the mineral lazurite, which is the source of the pigment ultramarine. Lapis lazuli is not a single mineral but an intergrowth lazurite with calcite, pyroxene, and commonly small grains of pyrite. The most important mines are in Afghanistan and Chile. Much of what is sold as lapis is an artificially dyed jasper from Germany that shows colourless specks of clear, crystallized quartz and never the goldlike flecks of pyrite that are characteristic of lapis lazuli.

Learn more about lapis lazuli with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Lazuli is a French progressive rock band consisting of 6 musicians.

History

Lazuli begun in 1998. In 1999 they released their first album, which had difficulties to touch the public and achieved low popularity. They perform concerts occasionally, which earn success with the public.

Their second album, Amnésie, in 2004, helped Lazuli to sign with the Night & Day distribution group.

On July 2 and 3, 2005, Lazuli attended the Montreux Jazz Festival and received an award for "Under the sky" .

Key dates

• 1999 : Concert at FIMU in Belfort ()
• 2004 : Second album "Amnésie"
• 2 & 3 July 2005 : Montreux Jazz Festival ()
• 11 March 2006 : Baja Prog Festival in Mexicali ()
• 12 April 2006 : Concert at Colos-Saal in Aschaffenberg ()
• 5 August 2006 : KOMMZ-Festival in Aschaffenburg ()
• 12 August 2006: Concert in Bergerac, Dordogne invited by Ange.
• 18 January 2007 : Colos-Saal à Aschaffenburg ()

Band members

• Claude Leonetti (Léode)
• Dominique Leonetti (singer, guitar)
• Gédéric Byar (guitar)
• Fred Juan (marimba, percussion)
• Sylvain Bayol (Chapman Stick, Warr guitar)
• Yohan Simeon (percussion)

Discography

• Lazuli (1999)
• Amnésie (2004)
• En avant doute... (2007)

External links

• Official web site &