Paris – Tallinn – Stockholm

Spring has been quite busy until now. Much time has been dedicated to my album which is at a good stage of preparation. Most of the mixing is made in Paris, at Studio Wasia of my friend Diogal. We are also preparing new material for his own album. It’s an interesting venture. While his last album Li La Lan was much more folk, giving large space to his voice and the acoustic guitars, this one will be more orchestral: afro-pop at its best.

Paris is always an exciting place. Much is going on in the musical field and there are many opportunities for musicians to meet and play at the various jam sessions. It was great this time to meet Manu Guerrero, a very talented French-Peruvian keyboard player and pianist who has performed with French and International artists like Celine Dion, Michel Sardou, Garou, Mireille Mathieu, Isabelle Boulay, Taj Mahal, Jef Sicard, Odysseum Sextet …….. We became friends and I’m sure we’ll join together in some project.

Apart from that, I spend much time in Tallinn those days. It has almost become my new home town. Among other things, I’m teaching afro-bass. There is much interest for it, especially among the youth.

Lately, I was part of the 20th JAZZ KAAR, Tallinn International Jazz Festival, that took place from April 18.-26 in Tallinn, Tartu, Viljandi, Pärnu, Haapsalu, Saku, Rõuge, Kuressaare, Paide, Elva, Türi and Rapla. Top musicians from 15 countries performed, giving a total of 57 concerts to more than 15 000 music lovers. I had the pleasure to perform with Paquito D’Rivera, the Cuban music and jazz composer, and Will Calhoun, the widely acclaimed, Grammy-winning drummer from the Bronx. Both were among the special favourites of the Jazzkaar audience together with Angie Stone and Al Jarreau.

As you see, life is going on. I’m leaving now to Stockholm to perform with Assane Mboup, the singer of Ochestra Baobab.

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