Zamballarana

Line up

Anton’ Giulio Galeandro (accordion)
Jaques Nobili (trumpet)
Jérôme Casalonga (vocals, sax, cueca, darabuka)
Laurent Barbolosi (vocals, violin, trumpet, tres, banjo)
Nicolas Debelle (bass)
Vincent Geraldi (drums, balafon)

country:
France
region:
Mediterranean
style(s):
Mediterranean Polyphony
label:
Casa Editions
type:
Band
gender:
male
instrumentation:
instrumental, vocal
artist submitted by:
CultureWorks

Fresh winds from the "Island of Beauty"

Zamballarana are a group of young enthusiasts from Pigna, an idyllic little town in the mountains of Western Corsica, the wild and mysterious "Island of Beauty". Founded in 1997 by Jérome Casalonga, the band gives the traditional island sounds a global touch, mixing them with other contemporary and mediterranean musical forms.

The blend of archaic male polyphony with elements of jazz, oriental and latin music as well as the innovative way of playing traditional Corsican instruments such as the 16-string Cetrea, the drum Colombu and the flute Pivana result in a hot and danceable mix of styles which raises the unique Corsican musical tradition to global standards. The humorous lyrics by Jérome Casalonga, François Mattei and Ghiacumu Thiers tell stories about life as it is - in the form of sentimental love ballads as well as sharp satires on modern society.

"Finally something new from Corsica! Jérome Casalonga is a radical innovator and blows with a fresh and very personal wind over the old songs of the Isalnd of Beauty."
Télérama 1997

"Fresh and strong emotions!"
Le Monde de la Musique 2005

CDs
2007 Camina (Casa Editions)
2004 Luna (Casa Editions)
1999 Lucia (Casa Editions)
1997 Zamballarana (Casa Editions)