B-Konexion

Biography

B-Konexion

An eclectic jazz-funk-fusion band formed in the mid-90’s in Boston MA, B.Konexion consists of some amazing musicians, composer and producers. The group’s first album Don’t Butt in Line was the winner of the prestigious Down Beat Student Music Award (18th Award) as Best Instrumental Jazz Band 1995 (USA). B.Konexion toured in Europe, appearing on festivals in Belgium, Holland, France, Switzerland and Germany.

THE BAND

The band leader/composer/saxophonist/flutist player is Stéphane Mercier from Brussels, Belgium. Stéphane worked, toured and recorded with lots of amazing jazz musicians in small and big band formations such as Mark Turner, Seamus Blake, Chris Cheek, Randy Brecker, Grégoire Maret, Antonio Sanchez, Benny Benack III, Bai Kamara Jr, the Jazz Station Big Band, BZ Sounds, Mango Santamaria, Aaron Goldberg, Jeanfrançois Prins, Jeff Ballard, Adam Deitch, Matt Penman, Vincent Bourgeyx, Darren Beckett, Eric Legnini, Vijay Iyer, Nicolas Thys, Melvin Butler, Avishai Cohen, Bruno Castellucci, Jason Rebello…

What they say:

Toots Thielemans (harmonicist, guitarist) “Stéphane Mercier is a musician in constant evolution, as a player and as a composer” Mike Zwerin (International Herald Tribune) “...kind of like Lee Konitz with an edge of Dolphy...good time, great sound, wonderful melodic sense and really knows how to listen”.

Asim Memon (allaboutjazz.com) “...an emerging innovator in contemporary jazz”

On bass is the amazing Mark Zubek from Toronto, Canada - a hard swinging, heavy grooving acoustic/electric bass player, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, songwriter, and jazz musician. His songwriting and production styles are influenced by pop, rock, R&B, hip-hop, and jazz. He was discovered by the legendary Betty Carter, who wrote lyrics for and performed a composition of his. Zubek writes and produces albums for singers and bands, arranges, plays instruments, and records from his studio.

On guitar is Thomas Gromaire, from Paris, France. He was a student of Jim Hall and Pat Martino in New York and Philadelphia, USA, then graduated from Berklee College of Music, Boston, USA. Thomas plays as much jazz as funk, trap, electro and hip-hop with musicians such as Mark Turner, Paco Sery, Cheick Tidian Seck, Bill Stewart and Adam Deitch.

On trumpet is Philippe Thomas from Mauritius Island. Philippe started as a singer in a family band, then quickly picked up the trumpet. After working for a few years in vacation resorts, he moved to Brussels as a married man, then was accepted to Berklee College of Music, where he became a major in-demand force on the trumpet. He met Mark Turner, who is a new main influence in jazz (with Brad Mehldau and Kurt Rosenwinkel) and intensively toured with him. He then moved to New York, playing for a few years in the jazz and world music scenes. His tone and musicality has a flavor of Tom Harrell, while his advanced harmonic approach takes from Lennie Tristano and Warne Marsh. Philippe currently resides in Mauritius.

On drums is Swiss Chris, Brooklyn, NY, USA originally from Neuendorf, Switzerland. He is Author/Drummer/Percussionist/Music Director/Producer/Educator/Human Rights Activist. Chris is an incredibly versatile drummer with his own identity. He has worked with some of the biggest stars, such as John Legend (musical director), Gloria Gaynor, Kanye West, Sir Elton John, Snoop Dogg, Wyclef Jean, Jennifer Hudson, Estelle and Corinne Bailey Ray. His specialties are To Inspire to Aspire and to Aspire to Inspire and Real Time Reverse Production live using acoustic and electronic drums.

THE SPECIAL GUESTS

Hip-hop artist. Paris-born, to the Comoros Islands, then Washington DC raised, Napoleon Da Legend is a Brooklyn-based artist who uses his voice as a weapon of hope, social- critique, conquest, and joy. He also works regularly with youth, running hip-hop workshops in Brooklyn’s toughest schools and Rikers Island’s juvenile programs. Let's say this: from hip-hop that makes you think and feel triumphant, to infectious, memorable dance records, Napoleon continues to prove he’s a force to be reckoned with. Nejma Nefertiti is a Brooklyn-based Hip Hop artist and a daughter of many lands, from Iran, to North Africa, to Indigenous America. She is an Art Equals Politics, social justice educator, utilizing Hip Hop and technology as cultural weapons to empower, uplift, inspire, and unite, both youth and elders, the oppressed, and for the freedom of all political prisoners. She has performed in places such as The Kennedy Center, SOB’s, The Nuyorican Poets Cafe, The Blue Note Jazz Club, and The Apache Cafe.

HOW B-KONEXION MET KLAPYAHANDZ

When Stéphane traveled to Phnom Penh in 2017 to play a jazz festival held by Steven Gargadennec with the Christian Brenner Quintet, he met with the producers of Klapyahandz, whom introduced him to some of their artists, playing a special live event that week. The leader of B.Konexion was really impressed by the energy and the revival of culture emerging from a brand new generation. That Cambodian youth was amazingly talented too. A couple of years later, Stéphane bumped into Klapyahandz again in Paris, introducing the label to Europe with a special event. B.Konexion being used to mix cultures ans places, it felt magically right when KYH asked Stéphane to collaborate. After Napoleon Da Legend and Nejma Nefertiti from Brooklyn, the collab with Izame Siva (New Exotic) and Vin Vitou (Old Pot, Tasty Rice) from Cambodia is an extraordinary mix of ingenuity and freshness with the grounded grooves of B-Konexion.