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Each
step in Meddy Gerville's musical journey has led him towards his
unique fusion of jazz with the rhythms of his native island and
explains his tremendous originality.
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 one of 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 performed as a sideman with the most popular bands
from Reunion: Baster, Ti Fock Sabouk and toured all over Europe,
Africa and the USA.
In 1997, he released his first
solo album: "Réunion 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 Félix on bass and double-bass.
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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 Réunion: Olivier Louvel (Inlandsis,
Orchestre National de Barbès), Stéphane Guillaume
(Didier Lockwood, Stéphane Huchard, ONJ), Linley
Marthe (the Mauritian bass prodigy "discovered"
by François Jeanneau and today's most in demand session
bass player in Paris), Fabrice Legros, 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
Félix returned on the bass and Nicolas Moucazambo joined
the trio on percussions. A third album came out: "Sobat'
ek lamour". Once again, we find the usual guests
who then became friends: Nicolas Folmer, Stéphane Guillaume,
Daniel Zimmermann, Olivier Louvel, Louis Winsberg and Fabrice
Legros.
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In 2005
Meddy worked two new projects. The first one remained devoted
to the fusion between maloya and jazz, the second one was dedicated
more to the fans of "world music" (traditional maloya
and séga songs)
He met bass player Dominique
Di-Piazza (John Mc Laughlin Trio, Bireli Lagrène,
Dennis Chambers…) and they started to work on a new project
with some other very prominent musicians
such as Grammy Award winner, drummer Horacio
"El Negro" Hernandez (Michel Camilo,
McCoy Tyner, Carlos Santana, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Eddie Palmieri)
and guitarist Jean-Marie
Ecay (Didier Lockwood, Claude Nougaro, Richard
Galliano, Billy Cobham, Eddy Gomez). The quartet performed on
Réunion and on some neighbour islands. The musical adventure
was a real success and later on that same year they went into
Meddy's home studio to record Meddy's fifth album:"Jazz
Amwin" released on Reunion in March 2006.
Contrary to the first one, the
second band was made up of home musicians who recorded and toured
with popular local bands. The aim for Meddy was to go back to
something he particularly enjoys which is singing. A séga,
maloya album: "Ti pa ti pa n'alé"
featuring world music legend Danyèl Waro was
also released (March 2006).
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Other collaborations include: appearance as
a guest on stage with latin percussions "giant" Giovanni
Hidalgo and drummer Horacio Hernandez.
Live in New York with bass player
Matthew
Garrison (Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny) and
"El Negro". Live on stage with
Paris Jazz Big Band (Nicolas Folmer, Pierre Bertrand,
André Cécarelli, Stéphane Guillaume ...)
at Le Trabendo (Paris) in June 2007. Live with bassist Michel
Alibo (Sixun, Trilok Gurtu,Salif Keita...) Tetsuro Kawashima (Sax)
and many more...
In June 2008,
Meddy released his sixth album: "Fo
kronm la vi" with Michel Alibo on bass...
Since the release of the album, the band has been touring in Europe,
Martinique, Cape Verde...
Meddy is currently in the studios preparing the
release of his seventh album due in Spring 2011...
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