Bob Marley, the film of his life
Since February 14, 2024, a biographical film has revived the message of universal peace left behind by the late Jamaican singer Bob Marley. “One Love” by Reinaldo Marcus Green focuses on a very specific period of this musical and social epic, the years 1976 to 1978. At this time, Jamaica was in the midst of […]
Son House, the resurrection of a blues pioneer
Born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, in 1902, singer and guitarist Edward James House was long deprived of the fame that should have made him a mainstay of American popular culture. At that time, racial segregation severely limited the chances of existing as an artist. Tired of fighting every day to maintain his place in society, Son […]
Jowee Omicil, revolutionary freedom
Free jazz was certainly the most daring form of political expression of the 20th century. He defied time and geographical boundaries and played with artistic codes to better sublimate them. Montreal saxophonist Jowee Omicil felt this call for creative freedom during the lockdown in 2020. His Haitian roots then guided his effervescent intellect and inspired […]
Max Roach’s 100th birthday
To appreciate the importance of Max Roach in The Epic of Black Music, it is enough to cite the musicians with whom he wrote great chapters in the history of jazz. This incredible drummer shared the stage or worked in the studio with Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, Sonny Rollins, Charles Mingus, […]
One tube can hide another…
Let’s have some fun this Christmas Eve… Could you recognize the original authors or performers behind the choruses you hum every day? Who sang “Killing me softly” before the Fugees? Who created Kingston Town before UB40? And who performed “Hound Dog” before Elvis Presley? Marc Maret is a passionate archivist whose hobby is unearthing first […]
African Jazz Roots, the original source of swing
When Simon Goubert and Ablaye Cissoko met in Saint-Louis (Senegal) in 2009, they certainly could not have imagined that their first exchange would lead to a lasting connection. This drumming virtuoso and kora master shares a love of multicultural experimentation. Their warm understanding could only mature into a spirit of natural harmony. 10 years after […]
Trumpeter Boney Fields always wants more!
Three years ago, as the pandemic brought a deafening silence to the world, American trumpeter and singer Boney Fields forged a project that today proves majestic. His memories of a vibrant youth in Chicago suddenly surfaced in his mind, giving rise to an album steeped in a very brassy musicality rooted in The Epic of […]
The Motema Music label is 20 years old!
Passion and desire are essential drivers in life to achieve the most ambitious projects. For 20 years, Jana Herzen has defended her label Motema, which has produced a number of artists who have become stars. The best example is Gregory Porter. Before he became a symbol of Blue Note Records, the impressive singer had released […]
Kareen Guiock-Thuram and Mario Canonge, two sensitive and complicit souls
A few days before an expected concert at La Cigale in Paris, singer Kareen Guiock-Thuram pays tribute to the memory of Nina Simone with a daring album that does not reread the works of her famous predecessor in an identical way, but instead builds on them. Inspire to better celebrate It. As a radio and […]
Was Sister Rosetta Tharpe a challenge to the African American church?
50 years ago, on October 9, 1973, a pioneer died. Sister Rosetta Tharpe had been raised in the Church, but her gospel culture transcended the boundaries of a faith that was nonetheless sincere. His desire to break the mold encouraged him to play with other popular forms of expression early on. Armed with her electric […]