| Gangbé Brass Band |
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Afro-jazz The Gangbe Brass Band was created in 1994. These 8 young jazz musicians had been playing in different groups, before creating this unusual fusion of traditional styles. Gangbe Brass Band’s aim is to promote the originality of the music of Benin. The result is definitely both modern and traditional, as it mixes jazz and traditional Benin. They take traditional rhythms, and invigorate them with jazz harmonies. The fusion reveals as much as possible of the musical tradition, while giving a western tone, to link the past and future. They sing in vernacular language about life in general, political injustices and the tribulations of women. Through the word Togbé, the band salutes the music on which they build their sound. The first meaning of the word is « ancestor », the band’s way of paying homage to the range and quality of the rhythms they created. The second is a reference to age, highlighting the ancient roots of the music they play. The Gangbe Brass Band’s musical approach is respectful of tradition, and in harmony with their ancestors and culture. From 1994 to 1997, the Gangbe Brass Band worked mainly in Benin. A year later, in 1998, their association called « The Union of Wind Instrumentalist of Benin » took part in the « Atelier Nomade » of Alougbine Dine, a very famous artistic director. They composed a piece called « La Fuite ». This meeting was very important as it enabled them to draw up artistic and political guidelines, and think about the values they really wanted to defend, things they want to talk about and the projects they could put in place. During this year, they played many concerts such as the « Jazz à Ouaga » festival, and again at Bamako’s Festival du Théâtre des Réalites where they met the French group Lo ‘Jo Triban. Thanks to them and to Yves De La Croix, they recorded their first album called « Gangbé » and began an international tour of 35 concerts with them in 1999, playing in Europe and Canada, and another tour in Nigeria. They received an award at Benin Golden Awards, and took part in the first Nomad’s meeting, in Cotonou, and the Pan African of Jazz in Accra (Ghana). In 2000, still supported by Lo’Jo Triban, they play on international stages, such as the Womad Festival in London, Jazz in St Louis (Sénégal) and Lille 2000. At the same time, they developed cultural projects for increasing awareness about Beninese culture, their main concern.
DiscographyAssiko (Contre-Jour) 2009 Whendo (Contre-Jour) 2004 Togbé (Contre-Jour) 2001
Line-upMartial AHOUANDJINOU : trombone, vocal Samples from Assiko
Video "Sofada" |
