French multi-instrumentalist Stéphane Belmondo first learned the trumpet at 10. After studying his instrument at Aix-en-Provence conservatory, he moved to Paris, where he joined Michel Legrand's big band. In 1993, he formed a quintet with his brother Lionel, and together released the first of many albums. At the same time, the trumpeter joined Dee Dee Bridgewater's trio for a North American tour, a collaboration that fuelled his popularity among musicians, playing with the likes of saxophonist Lee Konitz, pianist Donald Brown or drummer André Ceccarelli. For his solo debut in 2004, Belmondo offered an album of Stevie Wonder covers with Wonderland. The brothers continued to work together, in a quintet or for legends Yussef Lateef and Milton Nascimento. In 2011, Belmondo released The Same As It Never Was Before.