
SUPERGOMBO is an exciting new offshoot of the cultural blend made in France. Their Afrofunk sound is probably coming from the Tout Puissant Orchestre Poly-Rythmo and the Headhunters, blended with influences such as Senegalese Mbalax, Congolese Soukous, Funk and Jazz.
But you would never really think of their sound as “World music”, although they do retain its frenzied, uncontrollable rhythm. SUPERGOMBO’s seven musicians also know how to slow down and take their time. They borrow other influences from Bamako to Ouagadougou, with a stopover in la Guillotière, a lively Lyon neighborhood known for its own cultural mix. SUPERGOMBO really wants to take us all on a trip and get us on the dance floor . From his father’s years in Africa, Etienne Kermarc inherited the West African sounds – which he blended with his own jazz idiom. His fellow travelers are Aurélien Joly and Nacim Brahimi with their horns, Romain Nassini and Riad Klaï for the harmony, David Doris from Reunion Island and Wendlavim Zabsonré from Burkina Faso on percussions and drums – all of them involved in the writing and arrangements.
Finally, the indie label Z Production joined in, with Vincent Taurelle, Etienne Meunier and Benoît Bel working on the recording. With references such as Tony Allen and Daft Punk, their message is clear – they’re gonna make you dance.
With Bikutsi (Faraphonium) rhythms on top of Mandingo (Nâ Kuima) scales, somewhere between scorching grooves and rainbow colors, SUPERGOMBO offers an African suite that glides and shimmies its way from East to West, and from the West Indies to the Far East! And to extend the trip, they also love to slip in the odd movie music quote – from Blaxploitation flicks to Bruce Lee and blockbuster soundtracks in the style of Lalo Schiffrin… not to mention flamboyant melting pots à la Tarantino like the iconic “Marquis Warren,” where the arid images of the Western rub up against the syrupy notes of the coupé-décalé.
This music will surprise its listeners. Mostly, though, it’s going to get in their heads, and make itself comfortable, mainly so it can get down to their bodies. It should come as no surprise that SUPERGOMBO enjoys using rhythmic repetition and sometimes flirts with electronic trance. Their music never forgets its roots, though, nor the stories they tell.
Main shows 2018 : Jam In Jette – Bruxelles (Belgium) / Funked Up – Leiden (Netherlands) / Recyclart – Bruxelles(Belgium) / Kalkotta Jazz Festival – Calcutta (India) / Goa International Festival – Goa (India) / Shisha Jazz Festival – Pune (India) / Pilgrim Harbour Festival – Rotterdam (Netherlands) / Les Nuits Sonores Festival- Lyon (France) / Africajarc – Cajarc (France) / Soukmachines – Paris (France) / Jazz à Vienne Festival – Vienne (France)…
Etienne KERMARC • bass
Etienne Kermarc studied at the conservatory of music, graduated in Jazz with congratulations from the jury. . After having taught for several years, particularly at the conservatories of Grenoble and St Etienne, he devotes himself today to his artistic career. Influenced from an early age by African music (Fela Kuti, Ernsesto Djédjé, Sonny Okossun …), he has the opportunity to practice Burkinabe music alongside Bebey Prince Bissongo he accompanies for 5 years on tours that will take them to Burkina Faso, Algeria, Morocco, Holland and Spain.
In 2013 he founded Supergombo, a group of original compositions whose main influences are African Music (Ivory Coast, Mali, Cameroon …), Funk and Jazz. This one released two albums in 2015 and 2017 and turns regularly in Europe, but also in India and Burkina Faso in 2019.
Francis Larue • guitar
Francis Larue was born and raised in Auvergne, influenced both by the Anglo-Saxon culture and traditional French music, that he practices with his family.
He made his musical debut in several rock trios, as singer guitarist, while being fascinated by funk, jazz and Brazilian music. He is also composer and leader for his own band : Cissy Street. He work’s with many artists in very different styles, such as Pierre Drevet, Bigre BigBand, Supergombo…
David Doris • percussion
Native from « La Reunion », David Doris grew up in Maloya music, in the neighborhood of Gramoune Lele, master musicians from La Reunion.
He also practices singing and the traditional percussions Reunion (rouleur, sati, kayamb and piqueur). At the age of 10 years old, he starts a musical training at the conservatory in percussion specialty Afro-Cuban (conga, timbales and bongo …) and Mandingos (djembe and doum).
After getting his graduation at the conservatory, he joined the group Groove Lele (traditional
maloya music), as well as that the group of Urbain Phileas, the sons of Gramoune Lele. In 2012, David moved to France but still continue to play with artists such as Danyel Waro, JD Waro, Rene Lacaille, Votia…
Jérôme Barolome • saxophone
Both clarinetist, saxophonist, percussionist and composer, Jerome explores many styles, mixing modern music with traditional music. From 2008 to 2012 he studies music from Central Africa and West Africa in particular alongside the director of the Senegalese National Dance Ballet, Fotigui Touré and the National Ballet of Cameroon and the Abanda Man Ekan group.
Jazz musician, he’s involved in many projects we could see him playing with the Hot Club Afrobeat Orchestra, Alibutton, DAG, Jahkasa, Bomborro Kosso, Les Espors of Coronthie, Vaudou Game … Currently on tour with Supergombo, Ibrahima Cissokho and the Manding Foly, Bab’L’Bluz.
Wendlavim Zabsonré • drums
Born into musicians family, Wendavim Zabsonré, started with percussions, guitar and vocals… As a drummer, he now transposes the rhythmic and percussion of traditional Burkinabe music on his instruments and skilfully mixes them with other codes and esthetics.
Recognized in his country, Wendavim Zabsonré worked with many Burkinabè artists (Bil Aka Kora, Winsey Tim, Zêdess, Victor Demé…) and begins to to find a place on the international scene by collaborating with many artists such as Etienne M’Bappé, Ray Lema, Aly Keita …He collaborates with many projects: Kalyanga, Mixtuur, Acoustic Africa, Rhythmites, Mina Agossi, Brasical, National Orchestra of Burkina Faso, Yeleen … touring in USA, India, Europe…
Aurélien Joly • trumpet
After a few years of study at the conservatory, he began his career on the stages with great jazz musiciains such as Diego Humbert, Stefano Di Battista…
Multiple meetings and collaborations lead to interest and work heterogeneous styles such as Latin music (Tempo Forte), Balkan music (Fanfare Danguba), electro (Akhab), He’s now mostly touring all over the world with Togolese band Vaudou Game, as a trumpet player and percussionist.
Romain Nassini • keyboards
After starting with classical piano, his taste for discovery led him to jazz, and many others style of music. At 16 years old, he enters the jazz conservatory in Lyon.
As a pianist and keyboard player he works in many styles such as Jazz, Funk, African music… We also could hear him with the famous senegalese band Souba. During he’s carrer he had opportunity to play in Senéngal, Mali, India, Morocco, Belgium, Italy…
2020 • out soon
2017 • Explorations
2015 • Supergombo (EP)
Francis Larue • guitar
Romain Nassini • keyboards
Etienne Kermarc • bass
Wendlavim Zabsonré • drums
David Doris • percussions
Jérôme Bartolomé • saxophone
Aurélien Joly • trumpet
DATES | PLACES | VENUES |
2020 & 2021 | OPEN FOR | BOOKING |
2020 & 2021 | OPEN FOR | BOOKING |
2020 & 2021 | OPEN FOR | BOOKING |
2020 & 2021 | OPEN FOR | BOOKING |