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Meddy Gerville

Meddy Gerville's music is a unique fusion between jazz and maloya

About Me

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.

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.

n 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).

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...