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Afro-beat band Fanga presents Kaleidoscope

“Don’t do what I’ve already done” Fela Kuti used to say to his artist followers. And this is the advice Fanga has tried to follow since they started up in 1998. Their Afrobeat that marries their political calling, is the fruit of multiple interbreeding, from hip-hop to funk via jazz to Mandinka. Structured around Korbo, their singer, the band is inspired by multiple influences and it is not without reason that their new album is entitled Kaleidoscope. When they chose their name, which, in Dioula means “strength, energy and power”, Fanga didn’t realise how apt it was. The strength of their convictions is definitely the reason why the collective remains active, with undiminished faith in their music and the messages it conveys. A self-titled EP (2000), Afrokalyptik (2003), Natural Juice (2007), Sira Ba (2009), Afrokaliptyk Nation Live (2011) and Fangnawa Experience (2012) have all marked the band’s career, which today, is off to a new start. Kaleidoscope re-establishes the energy of the early days; less jazzy and more funky, from here on they are blending afrobeat with traditional African music from Togo, Benin, Ethiopia, Niger, Mali, Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso, on top of lyrics which continue to question the notions of justice, freedom and the right to happiness, in a world which is so cruelly lacking in it. As logic would have it, the album cover is a kaleidoscope in which each element evokes one of its tracks, from the child soldier to the human robot. A collage reflecting our society, where being united makes us stronger, provided that we set the diversity of its components to music. Fanga shows us the way, with Kaleidoscope. INFORMATION Website: fanga-official.com Souncloud: fanga-kaleidoscope Facebook: Afrofanga Video clip: Soldiers Vimeo: Live at ElMédiator Club of Perpignan 
9 November 2016

Fado singer Carla Pires presents Aqui

Throughout her career, Carla Pires has accomplished to entertain audiences from Europe to Algeria, from Brazil to Japan. Her main highlights performances were in prestigious venues such as the Opera of Ghent (Belgium), Queen Elizabeth Hall-PR(London), Södra Teatern and Kulturhuset (Stockholm), De La Mar Theater and Concertgbow (Amsterdam), Schowburg Roterdamse (Roterdam), Cirque d’Hiver (Paris), Oharu Auditorium (World Exhibition-Japan 2005), Théâtre de Verdure (Algiers), Museu Histórico Nacional (Rio de Janeiro) and Teatro Municipal de Barueri (São Paulo), Coliseo Carlos III (Madrid), Teatro Solís (Montevideo), Studio Samsung (Buenos Aires). Carla began her singing career in 1993; she participated in several musical projects, recorded soundtracks and played roles as an actress for TV series in Portugal. In 1996 won 1st place at the Festival Thessaloniki (Greece), organized by the Societies of Authors in Europe on behalf of Portugal, with the theme “Canção do Vento e da Terra” that was arranged to be included on her last album: “Rota das Paixões”. In 2002, , the year in which Fado began to take over her main musical aspirations, she recorded with the Quintet Amália, the CD “Fado em Concerto” and from September 2002 to July 2005 played the role of “young Amália” in the biggest musical ever produced in Portugal – Musical “Amalia”. Records her first solo album to Ocarina, “Ilha do meu Fado”, in 2004. Some tracks of this CD integrated several national and international collections. This marked the beginning of her solo career. In 2005 she was invited to represent Portugal at the World Exhibition in Japan performing at the Auditorium of Oharu. Carla Pires statement as Fado singer happens in 2008, when she held a tour with 10 concerts in France, and also performed in Algeria, Austria and Spain. International concerts have been constant in her career, highlighted by the opening concert of one of the biggest festivals in Europe (Flanders International Festival,Ghent-Sept18,2010) and the showcase at Babel Med Music, Marseilles (March30,2012), the second largest world music fair in Europe. Her latest album, “Rota das Paixões” released in 2011 in Portugal was published internationally, by the label World Village/Harmonia Mundi on May 2012. The year 2014 began with a new experience.At the invitation of the prestigious Portuguese choreographer Vasco Wellenkamp, Carla Pires boards on tour of 42 dates through Holland with the performance Fado, Ritual e Sombras (Fado/Ritual and Shadows), a coproduction with dancers from Portuguese National Contemporary Ballet and the International Danstheater (Amsterdam) about Fado, with live music performed by the singer. This is another milestone in the career of Carla Pires. Parallel she has presented her solo concert “Rota das Paixões” in France, Switzerland, Spain, Austria, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina and Angola. In 2015 [March (14, 18, 25) and April (10, 12, 17, 18, 23, 26)] – Carla Pires performed at Graz Opera in the piece “Malambo” which integrates the contemporary dance project “Fado, Ritual & Shadows”, with a new choreography by Vasco Wellencamp for the Oper Graz Tanzkompanie. Throughout these dates Carla Pires was accompanied by her musicians and by the Grazer Philharmoniche Orchester. ***** INFORMATION Website: carlapires-fado.com Souncloud: soundcloud.com/veev-com/sets/carla-pires-aqui Facebook: CarlaPiresOfficial Live video: Meu amor, meu amor Contact booking: viavoxproduction.fr
18 October 2016

Etienne Mbappé & The Prophets present “How near how far”

With a rich, singing tone and an unerring gift for melody, bassist Etienne Mbappé imparts even the most demanding musical contexts with a grace, warmth, and humanity that transcends boundaries, genres, and languages. His gifts have been put to use as a member of John McLaughlin’s 4th Dimension and the Ringers (with Jimmy Herring, Wayne Krantz, Michael Landau, and Gary Novak), along sideman appearances with Joe Zawinul, Manu Dibango, Robben Ford, Salif Keita, Ray Charles, Steps Ahead, and saxophonist Bill Evans. Now audiences can experience Mbappé‘s own music via How Near How Far (available on DATE through Abstract Logix), his forth solo album and the first to focus on his instrumental music. How Near How Far also marks the debut of Mbappé’s new band the Prophets – featuring Christophe Cravéro (acoustic and electric piano), Anthony Jambon (guitars), Clément Janinet(violin), Arno de Casanove (trumpet, flugelhorn), Hervé Gourdikian (tenor saxophone), and Nicholas Viccaro (drums, percussion). With the unusual trumpet/tenor/violin frontline leading the way, the Prophets explore eleven Mbappé originals, which touch on a number of international traditions while bridging cultural divides via deft musicianship and a thoughtful, conversational improvisational approach. “My music is influenced by places I have traveled, people I meet, colors I see, flavors that I taste, fun that I’ve had, and, sometimes, the pain that I feel,” Mbappé explains. “We live in a complex world today. I want nothing more than to bring that joy and understanding to people through music.” ***** INFORMATION Website: etiennembappe.com Souncloud: soundcloud.com/abstractlogix/johnji Facebook: etiennembappeandtheprophets Live video: Teaser Medley Milonga
30 September 2016

The show “Tambor y canto” at Studio de L’ermitage

Sorry, this entry is only available in FR.Le pianiste Simon Bolzinger présentera "Tambor y Canto" son nouveau spectacle le jeudi 6 octobre sur la scène du Studio de l'Ermitage. L'album sortira le 24 février 2017 chez L'Assos'Picante / Rue Stendhal (concert de lancement prévu à Paris mi-mars). Simon Bolzinger (piano, direction et composition) sera accompagné à cette occasion d'Arturo Martinez (chants et percussions de Cuba), Patinho Axé (chants et percussions du Brésil), Rocco Sedano (danses et percussions d’Argentine), Rodolfo Muñoz (chants et percussions du Pérou), Olivier Temime (saxophone) et Rafael Paseiro (contrebasse). La Compagnie Tambor y Canto propose le mélange du jazz et des traditions de quatre pays : Cuba, Brésil, Pérou et Argentine . Quatre percussionnistes et leurs quatre voix chantent et slamment la tradition, quatre maestros prêts à vous faire partager la richesse des percussions d’Amérique latine : le pandeiro, le cajón, le bombo et les batas ! Un métissage osé et explosif, où le piano se fraie un chemin entre zapateo et timbao, la mâchoire d’âne dialogue avec le saxophone, le bombo fait du danzón et la chacarera chante les Orishas. Un plateau exceptionnel et inédit, formé de virtuoses des rythmes latino-américains. De quoi embrasser la diversité et l’unité d’un continent tout entier !  ***** INFOS Site : L'Assos'Picante Souncloud : veev-com Facebook : Tambor-y-Canto Teaser Vidéo ***** LE STUDIO DE L'ERMITAGE 8 Rue de L'Ermitage, Paris 20e Site Web : studio-ermitage.com Horaire : 20h30
29 July 2016

Yasmine Kyd presents “Privacy Settings”

Yasmine Kyd is a Paris-based singer/songwriter of mixed origins. She grew up on the Atlantic coast of Brittany, listening to sounds from around the globe: Berber folk music (her dad’s Algerian), jazz, soul, gospel, bossa nova and British pop music. Seamlessly piecing together her influences, she has a knack for melodies that stay with you, serviced by a distinctively mellifluous, yet powerful vocal presence. While her first album ‘Earth Woman‘ (2010) featured a collection of sensitive soul ballads, with a warm acoustic production, her second album ‘Mythical Creatures‘ (2013) was an elegantly produced collection of love songs to jazz and blues, with a hint of nu soul and hip hop, which was described as reminiscent of both Joni Mitchell and Erykah Badu. Privacy Settings An unapologetic claim to versatility, Yasmine‘s third album ‘Privacy Settings‘ opens her palette to new experiences which could very well make this record something of a ‘modern classic’. Through Yasmine‘s words and the range of her musical choices, “Privacy Settings” explores the fluctuating boundaries between privacy and exposure in the contemporary world, reflected in a musical journey taking you from a funky slightly dystopian story (That One Day), to an emotive jazz ballad (Is it Time to Go Home?), leading up to a filmed walkabout through the streets of Paris (Paris Jam 69), following an intimate reggae number (Personal), and culminating with a sensual North African acoustic sound picture (Neapolis). ***** INFORMATION Website: yasminekyd.com  Facebook: Yasmine KYD Live videos: Medley, Sunset I love the man, Studio de l’Ermitage Unconditional, New Morning
13 July 2016

Kengo Saito presents “Japanistan”

Born in Japan, but he left for the USA at the age of 15, then moving to France afer high school to study the fine arts in hope to become a painter. Meanwihle he had been trained on the Western music on the Violin and on the Guitar. Soon he discovered the North Indian Classical music and started learning the Tabla and the Sitar in India and in France. He became one of the brilliant disciples of the Sitar maestro Pandit Kushal Das from whom he acquired the great technical skills and the aesthetic approach to interpret the Ragas in pure tradition. Based in Paris, Kengo gives private lessons as well as workshops as a visiting teacher in music schools, and performing live concerts all over the world. Recognized as a rare and a distinguished Rubâb player, Kengo plays the traditional Afghanrepertoire with subtle nuances transmitted by Daud Khan Sadozai, a disciple of the legend of Afghan Rubâb; late Ustad Mohammad Omar. Besides promoting the music of this unique instrument, his flexibility and creativity lead him to collaborate and perform in different styles of musical identities ranging from Japan to Greece. As a composer, he has created a number of original pieces influenced by India, Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey and Japan. With his compositions, he successfully directed a group of musicians from different traditions for a UNESCO concert in 2010, and for Aid and Relief Concert for Japan’s Tsunami victims in 2011. Working as a musician of the classical and traditional music of North India and Afghanistan, however at the same time he is deeply involved in today’s musical creativity. As a guest or a member, he has been taking part in various projects in different fields like Jazz, Cross Cultural Collaborations, Traditional and Contemporary Dances, Storytelling etc. He has arranged some Japanese folk melodies for Rubâb which is a successful and unique oeuvre reflecting his Japanese roots. His first solo album “JAPANISTAN” was described by the UK review Songlines as “an example of fusion done properly, with skill, nuance and good tase.” ***** INFORMATION Website: kengosaito-music.com Facebook: Kengo Saito Music Vidéos
22 April 2016

Leïla Ssina presents “Sympa”

Leïla Ssina will be presenting her new album “Sympa” on Thursday, May 26 on stage at the Trois Baudets to celebrate its release on May 27 at Padblem / Rue Stendhal, in partnership with France Bleu 107.1. Leïla Ssina is evolving in a crazy world, where Barbie turns tricks and cows become interns, one where the game of love more closely resembles a game of Battleship than it does a walk in the park. And don’t go thinking that Leïla is satisfied with that! Just as she breathes, she sings: to fight, denounce, and heal her wounds as well … from twists of a wrist to twists of fate, from ranting and raving to fun in the sun, she paints an unvarnished portrait of her life and universe, with its beauty and breadth. Her texts, made with part irony, part optimism, show the only possible stand one can have when facing this troubled world: to be herself, with her acidic yet necessary pop-groove music, and the text in French. The jury of the Pic d’Or made no mistake when granting her the 2013 performance award and ACP-Manufacture Chanson Award. She was selected to take part in the Grand Zebrock music competition and was awarded the Special Jury Prize and the 107.1 France Bleu award, which propelled her onto the “Zebrock” stage at the most recent Fête de l’Humanité. The songs « A payer » and « L’hiver en été » off Leïla Ssina‘s first EP were praised as a French-language favorite on Swiss national radio, Canal 3. She was also one of the finalists in the Métisse talent competition, which led to her playing at the 2015 edition of Solidays. ***** INFORMATION Website: leilassina.net Facebook: ssinaleila Vidéo “Pic d’Or, Prix d’interprétation 2013”
21 April 2016

So Groovy presents “Couchsurfing on my Mind”

The soul / funk band from Toulouse So Groovy presents its new album “Couchsurfing on My Mind“. In 2013, seven musicians and a singer met up and united out of a love for groove, that indefinable style that livens us up right from the very first note. “From the funk of Maceo Parker to the soul of Aretha Franklin, by way of the acid jazz of Jamiroquaï“; it’s a little bit of all that, a subtle blend of the three styles, with some hip-hop and R ‘n B thrown in. In 2014, they were one of the 130 bands in competition on the talent contest “Le Roi de la Zik!” The victory propelled them into the studio, hardly a surprise for their loyal following, who are already convinced that the groove epidemic punishing their feet is still just in its early stages! Indeed, it is live on stage where So Groovy takes it to the third dimension. Off the successful coaching at Metronum in Toulouse with Matthieu Miegeville and Jerkov Musiques, So Groovyunwinds the wound-up, simple as that. The three wind instruments Sébastien Pasero (tenor saxophone), Peter Morenon (trombone), and Thomas Castex (trumpet) have already done the equivalent of a Paris-New York trip with all their moving from stage to stage. Arthur Mary, the psychedelic keyboard player and Guillaume Castex on drums make up for their sitting down by keeping a smooth groove to the beat. The picture would not be complete without mentioning Alexander Cayrel (guitar, lap steel) and Romain Brusini (bass), whose touch make poetry rise from off their strings. On March 25, 2016 So Groovy‘s first album “Couchsurfing on My Mind” was released. Nine tracks that take listeners on a trip through the different kinds of groove, and then makes a stop for one night, like a spur-of-the-moment couchsurfing adventure, to then go on hunting after another style, sometimes warmer, sometimes livelier. ***** INFORMATION Website: sogroovy.fr Facebook: sogroovytheband Clip Groove Defenders Cannibal Lady Live au Rex
29 March 2016