Chyco Siméon

Biography

French jazz bassist, composer, arranger and producer Chyco Siméon has spent over twenty years carving out a singular space in contemporary jazz and fusion. His playing is defined by a deep groove, melodic writing and improvisational freedom that place him at the crossroads of jazz, fusion and Caribbean music — without ever being confined to a single category.

Self-taught, Siméon grew up between Montrouge, in the southern suburbs of Paris, and Martinique. His father, a passionate music lover, introduced him to jazz, salsa, classical and Caribbean music from an early age. It was in this rich sonic landscape that the young Chyco opened melodic spaces that have continued to nourish his music throughout his career.

His first musical experience came in Martinique, while still a high school student, in the group Sunshine alongside Tony Chasseur, Pipo Gertrude, Eric Bonheur and Philippe Joseph. In 1984, his career took off with the group Crystal, where his first composition became a radio hit. He followed with Quartz, then became a studio reference, invited to record with pioneers of Antillean variety and jazz — Simon Jurad, Gertrude Seinin, Fal Frett, Luther François, Zaza, Fanzi — as well as on the Hibiscus label.

Georges Debs, first producer of Kassav', allowed him to establish himself as a bassist, composer and producer. In 1990, Michel Alibo convinced him to move to Paris, where the new generation of Caribbean music was taking shape. He then composed for the voices of zouk — Tatiana Miath, Tony Chasseur, Pipo Gertrude — before moving into funk and R'n'B through Serge Ponsar, in collaboration with Arnaud Aubaille and Romano Musumarra. He continued composing and producing for Hasheem, Omar Chakil, Ashanty, G-Squad and other artists from the Caribbean and urban scene. In 1996, he created his own R'n'B group, Washa, and released the single "Tant de Combats" on Universal Music.

For over a decade, he moved between Paris and the Antilles, handling arrangements, composition and production for numerous artists across the variety, R'n'B and Caribbean scenes, while working on his own material. These years in the studio and on stage gave him a deep understanding of groove, arrangement and production — tools he then turned toward his own language.

In parallel with his solo career, he continues to sit in the studio as bassist, composer, arranger and producer for a wide variety of artists and projects: Liz McComb, Herlin Riley, Cliff Barnes, Kelyn Crapp, Keite Young, John Shannon, and many others.