Rêves de Mai – Michel Nioulou, Dominique Meunier & Daniel Vacheresse

A vibrant, heartfelt and deeply human traditional music album.

Cordiola is proud to support and present Rêves de Mai, the debut album from the trio composed of Michel Nioulou, Dominique Meunier and Daniel Vacheresse—three musicians brought together by a shared passion for over twenty years: making people dance and sharing emotions through music.

Created in 2005 for a concert at the Festival des Musiques Rares en Mâconnais, the Rêves de Mai project has grown through countless dances, encounters and a lasting friendship. Recorded in 2025, this album primarily features compositions by Michel Nioulou, inspired by memories, landscapes, loved ones and the many moments that have shaped his life.

The trio’s music is distinguished by its spontaneity. Without written arrangements or artificial embellishments, each performance emerges from mutual listening and the inspiration of the moment. This freedom brings a rare freshness and sincerity to every piece, serving both dance and emotion.

Across the album’s 20 tracks, bourrées, waltzes, mazurkas and polkas follow one another through a musical landscape that is by turns festive, tender, melancholic and joyful. Each composition tells a story: a friend, a meeting, a cherished place, a moment of happiness or nostalgia. Above all, Rêves de Mai is a profoundly human album, where music sometimes speaks in place of words.

Musicians

• Michel Nioulou – hurdy-gurdy
• Dominique Meunier – bagpipes and clarinet
• Daniel Vacheresse – accordion

Recording

• Recorded in Lancharre, France, in June and October 2025
• Recording engineer: Joanny Nioulou
• Mastering: Studio Mastermix Labs (David Mascunan & Joanny Nioulou)
• Artwork and graphic design: Noëllie Nioulou

Why We Love It at Cordiola

Beyond its musical quality, this album is the testimony of an exceptional artistic and human adventure. A longtime friend and inspired musician, Michel Nioulou offers sincere and timeless compositions that resonate equally with dancers and attentive listeners alike.

An album to discover, to share, to listen to—and to dance to.