Travelling all the way from Lyon, French jazz band Supergombo recently visited India for the very first time since their inception in 2013, and made a stopover in the city. The band is a fusion of African and classical jazz music, which culminates into rhythmic and peppy instrumental creations, popularly called Afro Jazz.
Their music has influences from the central African regions of Senegal, Congo, Benin, Niger, Nigeria, Burkina Faso and even the Réunion Islands, among others. Interestingly, they describe it as somewhere between Fela Kuti and Hugh Masekela, and hilariously add that it’s the kind of music Maceo Parker would probably play if he knew the Mediterranean better.
It’s time for Africa
Supergombo is quite an uncommon name, and interestingly, the word is a combination of two different meanings, we are told. “While Super is one of the popular superlatives used by African bands in the 1980s, the word ‘gombo’ is used when they encourage people to dance,” band founder and bass guitarist Etienne Kermarc, tells us. Now five years old, the seven-member band has seen a lot of changes with its members. However, Kermarc tells us that even though the music has changed over time, the band presents a combination of different sounds. Every member puts forth their own vision, and the others adapt around him, while still being themselves. The other members are Wendlavim Zabsonre on drums, Jerome Bartolome on saxophone, Felicien Bouchot on trumpet, Riad Klai on guitar, Romain Nassini on keyboards, and David Doris on percussion.
Rhythmic blues
However, while classical jazz has always been quite popular, Supergombo came to be an Afro Jazz band as every one of them has been involved with African tunes. Wendlavim, who hails from Burkina Faso, brings in a lot of local music influence. Kermarc was previously the bassist for an African band in France, then he decided to start this outfit after he was inspired by Austrian jazz keyboardist Joe Zawinul of the Weather Report.
Interestingly, Jerome is the saxophonist for Togo-Lyon band Voudou Game, but is currently on tour with Supergombo. Being one of the most animated members of the band, Wendlavim tells us that as a result of colonisation, there has been a lot of cross-cultural learning, where French musicians regularly go to Africa to learn new music and instruments, and vice versa.“While we do go to the conservatory to study, we only pick the technicalities and fuse them with local African music. Our goal is to play from the heart, with energy,” Wendlavim tells us passionately.
Jazz, the Indian way
So, have they been influenced by any desi beats lately? “Oh, you can definitely expect some Indian music in our next album,” responds Wendlavim. And there might be a tambura involved too... Their next stop is at Burkina Faso and later the Réunion Island, before they record their next album.