Sebastien Lanson arrived in the United States in 1998 from his hometown of Paris, France, and within a short half decade has become a highly active guitarist on the Bay Area jazz scene, playing regularly with the jazz legend Louie Bellson, and other well established artists. He is a versatile performer with a guitar style that adapts readily to both ends of the jazz spectrum — from traditional to contemporary.

Taking up the guitar at age 14, he began formal training one year later with his aunt, Marie-Nonne Lanson, a professional classical performer and teacher. His musical education continued at the American School of Modern Music in Paris, an affiliate of The Berklee College of Music in Boston, spending four years studying composition, improvisation, and arranging. He attended master classes with such jazz greats as Gary Burton, Randy Brecker, and Steve Swallow, and studied for several years with jazz guitar master Philippe Petit. In France, he played in some of the most famous Parisian jazz clubs, including Le Ducs des Lombards, Alliance Jazz Club and Le Petit Journal.

Sebastien's arrival in America in 1998 was a pivotal point in his musical career. Meeting Fred Berry, the director of the Stanford University Jazz Orchestra, changed his life. “Taking me under his wing, he invited me to play with his orchestra, and with some of the greatest jazz musicians in the world.” Those musicians include such major artists as Bobby Hutcherson, Bob Florence, Wycliff Gordon, Billy Higgins, John L. Worley, Jr. and Louie Bellson. “ Only a few months after I arrived, I recorded a CD with the Stanford Orchestra and Louie Bellson. I never imagined that possibility before coming to the United States.”

While a part of The Stanford Jazz Orchestra, he toured Europe, playing at The Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, the North Sea Jazz festival in Holland, and the Luxembourg Garden in Paris. While he lived in the U.S., Sebastien performed with a variety of groups that reflect his eclectic taste in music. As part of the Fil Lorenz Little Big Band and the Collective West Jazz Orchestra, he explores the straight ahead sound made famous by Blue Note. He has also appeared with
the R & B inspired Nick Rossi Set, playing the upstairs lounge at the Fillmore, the Black Cat and Bruno's in San Francisco, and the Knitting Factory in Los Angeles. Additionally, he performed with the Louie Bellson Jazz Orchestra, the Filoli "All Star" Repertory Jazz Band, and the Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra. Sebastien has also been collaborating with High Spies, a disco house production team and performance group.

In 2004, to explore new territories, Sebastien moves to Seville, Spain. He performs at some of the major venues in Spain with flamenco/jazz bands and tours extensively with a contemporary dance company, La Tarasca. After a two year stint in Seville, Spain, he decides to move back to his hometown of Paris, France, to further his musical development. From 2006 - 2010 he teaches musicianship and guitar at several conservatories. He writes and performs the music for a theater show, Maldoror, in collaboration with Malo de La Tullaye. He also writes music and performs throughout France
with the Corala Trio. The Corala Trio is currently working on a new CD, due for release in 2011. In 2010, he starts working on several projects with cello player extraordinaire Eric Maria Couturier, such as establishing a link between jazz and baroque music. A concert is slated in Nice, France, for November 2011.