Trebeka

GET READY FOR TREBEKA!!! Born and raised in France in a multi-ethnic family rooted in Africa, Asia and Europe, Trebeka grew up as a citizen of the world with a mix who influenced strongly her life, spirituality and music. After building an astonishing reputation as an artist comfortable in all styles and genres, whether singing jazz, soul, popular or world music, Trebeka has proved herself the choice of demanding audiences and established stars alike. Trebeka first came to prominence in Paris at the tender age of eighteen. Just two years earlier she had begun singing for local audiences in her hometown of Orléans. But it wasn't long before growing demand for her exceptional sound and charismatic performance style prompted a move to the French capital. Once in Paris the singer appeared regularly with her own ensemble in the city's jazz clubs, festivals and showcases, while in 2001 she enjoyed a five-month spell as resident singer at the luxury Burj Al Arab hotel, Dubai. Meanwhile Trebeka was also in demand as a backing vocalist for numerous established stars, particularly in the flourishing African and World music scenes. With a maturity belying her youth, she comfortably rose to the challenge of working with the likes of Sally Nyolo (Zap mama) , Manu Dibango, Djoloff, Khaled, William Balde, Ragga Sonic, Coco M'Bassi, Lulendo, Loïs Andrea, David Charvet, Neg'Marron, Jacky & Benj, Toure Kunda, to name but a few. At the same time, she was regularly called on to support more mainstream artists, such as Catherine Lara, Cheb Mami, Lara Fabian, Pascal Obispo..etc.. During the same period Trebeka continued to work on her own material, with demand for her songwriting talent leading to a publishing contract with Warner Chappell Music France. While moving between styles is, it seems, her trademark, Trebeka's career has also seen her adapt to every conceivable performance situation. A veteran of every major international music festival, the singer is equally at home in an intimate jazz club, a live television broadcast or a recording studio. That she chose to pursue singing is no surprise, since Trebeka comes from a family steeped in musical and performance tradition. Her grandfather was a writer, the author of “Tante Bella” a classic of the Cameroonian Literature, her Cameroonian father is a guitarist and a vocalist, her Indian-French mother danced professionally for twenty years, while her brother is a tour manager, and her cousins music producers or performers..

As a child, the singer's first creative outings were in fine arts and the theatre, which helps to explain her ease in front of an audience. She appeared in several French movies including: “ASSASSINS” with Michel Serrault and Mathieu Kassovitz and “SARAKA BO” with Richard Bohringer and Yvan Attal. Later on, Trebeka's flourishing musical career did not prevent her broadening her horizons in other areas. The singer studied Fine Art for two years at “L’Ecole Des Beaux Arts D’Orléans (famous Fine Art School)”, won a drawing competition and got an exibition on her own. She graduated successfully from A.N.A.T.S (sound engineering school), Paris in 2000. Trebeka, also worked as a freelance music journalist for several years. The latter activity saw her writing regularly for the French music press and interviewing such luminaries as MC Solaar, Benjamin Biolay, Juan Rozoff, Ben Harper, Lokua kanza, Oxmo Puccino, Les Nubians, Terri Walker, Erykah Badu, Maxwell...etc...But it wasn't long before her love of music took over and the rest is history. In 2003 she moved to London set up her own jazz band with the best musicians in town, Chris Jerome (Courtney Pine’s pianist), Oroh (Dble bass/Corinne Bailey Rae music director, Courtney Pine, Roots Manuva..) and friends where we could see regularly guest such as Jason Yarde (Jack Dejohnette, Keziah Jones, Jazz Jamaica All Stars, Soweto Kinch, Julie Dexter, Incognito, Manu Dibango..) and from there started her international ascension. On tour all over the world with no less than 235 gigs per year, singing all the jazz stuff and bossa nova , in the best venues, International Jazz Festivals, Jazz Clubs, 5 Stars Hotels, from Beijing to Dubai, Darjeeling, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Santiago de Chile, Bangkok, Singapore, NYC, Paris, Québec, Yaoundé or London…etc…Trebeka even had the opportunity to play on stage with Kenny Garrett: “I had a gig in Beijing, China, with a great jazz trio when Kenny Garrett jumped on the stage and started to play with us, we were just stunned to see this amazing musician coming and enjoying a jam with us. Kenny came back almost every single night afterwards to listen to my show, we had a good chat and he gave me a lot of great advises” said Trebeka. After playing all over the planet since almost 3 years, a CD became quickly a necessity: "People after each of my gigs were always asking me if i had a CD, that's how i realised i needed to do a recording who could match the music i was playing on stage every night" said Trebeka. She contacted her friend, Lonnie Plaxico, emblematic jazz figure, Grammy awards winner and genius musician well known for his work with Cassandra Wilson, Jack Dejohnette or Art Blakey, who put all together and in february 2008 "Willow Weep For Me" (title of the CD and song dedicated to her friend Barbara F., who died tragically in 2007) was born. Trebeka and her music mates definitely prove than great songs never age especially when they are updated so brilliantly by this All Stars Band. Trebeka (Vocals), Lonnie Plaxico (Music Director/ Upright Bass and Cello), Marvin Sewell (Guitar), George Colligan (Piano & Fender Rhodes) and Kenny Grohowski (Drums). A musical journey, soulful, Jazzy with latin and afro influences. Trendy and original. Show less