On April 11, 2024, Cameroonian bassist Étienne Mbappé led an orchestra of young virtuosos from HEMU (Haute École de Musique de Lausanne) who returned from Ghana, where they smelled the scent of a particularly rich and vibrant culture. This attempt to restore the heritage and play on the sensations of this African trip was crowned with success. We followed these budding musicians and their renowned conductors.
Led by bassist Étienne Mbappé and vibraphonist Thomas Dobler, this group of students invested in their art managed to revive the highlife of the great original creators. In addition to her artistic commitment, the trip to West Africa was a real milestone in her personal development. The confrontation with traditions, ways of life and a different everyday life was a human adventure that these future brilliant instrumentalists will not soon forget. The culture shock could only be great, as their social environment in Switzerland differs from the Ghanaian reality. They were happy to immerse themselves in local habits and customs and took stock of the importance of African heritage on a global scale.
On this April 11, 2024, the rhythms, syncopations, melodies and choruses that had fled from ancestral Ghanaian soil resounded powerfully on the shores of Lake Geneva. The audience was convinced and the satisfied smiles rewarded the commitment of these young people with a bright future.
A few hours later, another impressive musical legacy thrilled the audience hungry for free and daring twists and turns. British double bassist Dave Holland, a pillar of jazz history and partner of Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Kenny Barron and Sam Rivers, gave a masterclass in instant creativity alongside saxophonist Jaleel Shaw and drummer Eric Harland. As impressive accomplices on stage, these three swing acrobats have pushed the boundaries of improvisation by letting themselves be carried away by the inspiration of the moment. This perfect mastery of the moment is based on their respective personal experiences alongside the great leaders of yesteryear.
“We hear this age-old question so often: “Is it always possible to be innovative?” What direction is music going? “. The answer to that is very simple: there will always be talented young musicians who are enthusiastic about music and are ready to dedicate their entire lives to this demanding art and make their contribution to this great cultural building. I have no doubt that that there will always be newcomers. Living in New York reinforces my idea that this city is a breeding ground for talent. Every day I see young musicians entering clubs and trying to. living the life of a jazz musician. This scenario has been repeated for decades, because if you have a heart, you immediately remember the music you heard Hearing the double bassist Ray Brown with Oscar Peterson for the first time, I immediately said to myself: “I have to learn to play like that!” “. Until then I played rock’n’roll with friends. I immediately decided to grab a double bass and learn to play. That’s why music will never stop evolving. Of course, it may go in directions that you won’t necessarily like, but it will continue to evolve. Remember the album Bitches Brew which we recorded with Miles Davis in 1969. He was widely criticized at the time. He was accused of destroying the jazz tradition. We must accept that musical vocabulary can evolve. As long as you respect the heritage of your ancestors, nothing prevents you from giving it new colors and new shapes. John Coltrane was inspired by tradition but had the courage to mix it up. He was inspired by people like Dexter Gordon, but knew how to develop his own originality. And it still influences his heirs today. Look how much Herbie Hancock was able to develop his own musicality. His artistic career is extraordinary. Even today he amazes us and our first reaction is: “But how does he do it?” “. I played with him a lot in the 90s. I realized that he never played a song the same way twice. By From the introduction he takes you into another world, into his world. He always tries to create something new. I am very inspired by it and try never to repeat myself. That’s why I have confidence in the future and believe in all of them young musicians who are currently performing on international stages.” (Dave Holland on microphone from Joe Farmer)
Night had fallen over Lake Geneva and the stars shone in the eyes of the audience, completely mesmerized by the musical audacity of three undisputed masters: Dave Holland, Jaleel Shaw and Eric Harland.
► The websiteEtienne Mbappe
► The website of HEMU (Lausanne High School of Music)
► The website of Cully Jazz Festival
► The website of Dave Holland.
