Songs
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- country:La Réunion
- style(s):Afrobeat, Jazz
- label:not signed
- type:Band, Composer/Songwriter
- gender:male
- instrumentation:instrumental, vocal
- artist posted by:Luce, Lucia
Line up
- Jérome Calciné (Percussions, Vocal)
- Jim Célestin (Saxophone, Vocal)
- Laurent Lebeau (Drums)
- Meddy Gerville (Piano, Keyboard, Vocal)
- Michel Alibo (Bass)
Links
Meddy was born in St Pierre, the largest city in southern Reunion Island, home of the rainbow population. They are called rainbow people because they represent the most diverse ethnic makeup of any place on earth, descending from Europe, India, China, Africa and Madagascar.
Right from the beginning of his career, Meddy has played with the most popular bands from Reunion: Baster, Ti Fock Sabouk and performed all over Europe, Africa and the USA.
In 1997, his first solo album is released "Reunion Island" playing in a trio format alongside some prestigious guests: Louis Winsberg (Sixun), Nicolas Folmer (ONJ), Philippe Sellam (No Jazz). At the time, his band was made up of Max Dalleau on drums and David Felix on bass and double-bass.
The year 2000 saw the release of a second album "Jazz'Oya", driven by the same drummer and Lalah Rakotorahalahy on bass, with other guests both from France and Reunion: Olivier Louvel (Inlandsis, Orchestre National de Barbes), Stephane Guillaume (Didier Lockwood, Stephane Huchard, ONJ), Linley Marthe (the Mauritian bass prodigy "discovered" by Francois Jeanneau and today's most in demand session bass player in Paris), Laurent Dalleau, Didier Dijoux, Miguy Petrel, Fabrice Legros, Daniel Riesser, Subbash Dhunoohchand.
The album title perfectly illustrates his artistic quest of a fusion between jazz, its sophisticated harmonies, creative freedom and the swing and complex rhythms of maloya, the "blues made in Reunion."
In 2004 David Felix is back on the bass and Meddy decides to invite Nicolas Moucazambo on percussions to join him and a third album is out "Sobat' ek lamour". Once again, we find the usual guests who have now become friends: Nicolas Folmer, Stephane Guillaume, Daniel Zimmermann, Olivier Louvel, Louis Winsberg and Fabrice Legros.
2005 brought a major change to Meddy's musical journey: Two new bands were created.
The first one remains devoted to jazz and maloya jazz, the second one is dedicated more to the fans of "world music" (maloya and sega songs)
2005 brought a major change to Meddy's musical journey when he met the renowned bass player Dominique Di-Piazza (John Mc Laughlin Trio, Bireli Lagrene, Dennis Chambers...), who helped him with an exceptional new project
With the participation of the O.D.C (Office Departemental de la Culture) some other prestigious musicians were invited such as the outstanding American drummer Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez (Michel Camilo, McCoy Tyner, Carlos Santana, Gonzalo Rubalcaba) and great guitarist Jean-Marie Ecay (Didier Lockwood, Claude Nougaro, Richard Galliano, Billy Cobham, Eddy Gomez). The quartet began to perform in Reunion Island and in the Indian Ocean area. The musical adventure is successful and upon "El Negro's" suggestion, they all decided to record on Meddy's new album:"Jazz amwin" which was released on Reunion Island in March 2006.
Contrary to the first one, the second band is made up of home musicians who are also currently performing with popular local bands. Bernard Permal is the new bass player, Jerome Calcine on percussion, Jim Celestin on saxophone, Guillaume Legras on guitar, Laurent Serveaux on drums, Clarice Techer, Flora Pasquet and Fabrice Legros in the chorus. The aim for Meddy is to go back to something he particularly enjoys which is singing. A sega, maloya album: "Ti pa ti pa n'ale" with Danyel Waro as a guest artist was also released on Reunion Island in March 2006.
Meddy recently had the pleasure to invite bassist Matthew Garrison (Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny) and "El Negro" during the last St Gilles International Jazz Festival (October 2006).
He currently performs with Jerome Calcine on percussions, Jim Celestin on saxophone and Laurent Lebeau on drums. On his last European tour (May 2007) he invited Michel Alibo on bass (Sixun, Mario Canonge, Sakesho)
On this same European tour Meddy also had the great opportunity to be invited by the Paris Jazz Big Band (Nicolas Folmer, Andre Cecarelli, Pierre Bertrand, Stephane Guillaume ...) for a concert at le Trabendo in June 2007. New projects to follow ...
New video of latest CD Visit on Meddy Gerville's website for high resolution version http://www.meddygerville.com/extras.htm