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 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 has played with the most popular bands from Reunion: Baster, Ti Fock Sabouk and performs all over Europe, Africa and the USA.
In 1997, his first solo album is released “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.
The year 2000 saw the release of a second album “Jazz'Oya”, driven by the same monster 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), Laurent Dalleau, Didier Dijoux, Miguy Pétrel, Fabrice Legros, Daniel Riesser, 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 is back on the bass and Meddy decides to invite the excellent Nicolas Moucazambo on percussions to join him and a third album is out “Sobat' ek lamour”. Once again, we find the usual guests who have now become friends: Nicolas Folmer, Stéphane Guillaume, Daniel Zimmermann, Olivier Louvel, Louis Winsberg and Fabrice Legros.
2005 brought a fantastic change to Meddy’s musical journey !
Two new bands were created: The first one remains devoted to jazz and jazz maloya, the second one is dedicated more to the fans of “world music” (maloya and séga songs)
Jazz band: In 2005 Meddy met the renowned bass player Dominique Di-Piazza (John Mc Laughlin Trio, Biréli Lagrène, Dennis Chambers…), who helped him with an exceptional new project
With the participation of the O.D.C (Office Départemental de la Culture) some other prestigious musicians were invited such as the outstanding American drummer Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez (Michel Camilo, McCoy Tyner, Carlos Santana, Gonzalo Rubalcaba) who is known as one of the best drummers of his generation and the excellent guitar player Jean-Marie Ecay (Didier Lockwood, Claude Nougaro, Richard Galiano, Billy Cobam, Eddy Gomez).
The quartet began to perform in Réunion Island and in the Indian Ocean area. The musical adventure is successful and upon “El Negro's” suggestion, they all decided to record on Meddy's new jazz album:”Jazz amwin” which has just been released (March 2006)
World Music band: Contrary to the first one, the second band is made up of home musicians who are also currently performing with famous local bands like Oussanoussava or Dominique Barret. Bernard Permal is the new bass player, Jérome Calciné on percussion, Jim Célestin on saxophone, Guillaume Legras on guitar, Laurent Serveaux on drums, Clarice Técher, Flora Pasquet and Fabrice Legros in the chorus.
The aim for Meddy is to go back to something he particularly enjoys which is singing. A séga, maloya album: “Ti pa ti pa n'alé” with Danyel Waro as a guest artist has also just been released (March 2006)
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