Alioune Agbo
Alain Agbo inherited his passion for music walking in the footsteps of his father, a guitarist. When he was in school, unlike his schoolmates busy preparing their future academic goals, Alain had nothing else in mind but listening to all kinds of music distilled here and there in the streets of Dakar, at popular events and festivities, or broadcasted on the radio, in particular “The Voice of America”. Jimi Hendrix, George Benson, Carlos Santana, Adama Faye, Ike Turner, Wes Montgomery and others influenced his musicality. While his roots are definitely African, he is resolutely curious and open to other cultures. Over the years throughout his experience with various groups, he soaks up the best in each and every one of them and finally molds up his own musical personality. He is over sensitive and his musical technic born from the modern rhythms and melodies flowing in his veins disrupt some of the clichés attached to African music. Miriam Makeba, Mama Africa, falls under his charm and hires him. For five years, from 2001 to 2006, he accompanies the South-African Diva performing on the most famous stages around the world. His first solo album is a perfect seizing summary of his mixed culture: a French and Beninese born in Paris and brought up in Senegal.
Seydou Zombra
Translated by Lorna Hadijimalis
INFO
Alain Agbo est un "enfant de la balle." La musique, il l'a reçu presqu'en héritage de son guitariste de père. De fait, à l'âge où ses petits copains en étaient à tracer leur sillon scolaire, lui n'avait d'oreilles que pour toutes ces musiques distillées, notamment sur les antennes de la "Voix de l'Amérique" et de la Radiodiffusion nationale du Sénégal. Ses influences sont de partout: Jimmy Hendrix, Carlos Santana, Ike Tuner, Georges Benson, Santana, Wes Montgomery, Adama Faye etc...Définitivement enraciné dans sa terre d'Afrique, mais résolument ouvert, il transcende les clivages et digère, sans coup férir, le meilleur de chaque et de chacun. Sa sensibilité à fleur de peau et sa technique donnent à son jeu une modernité rythmique et mélodique qui bouleversent certains clichés liés à la musique africaine. Myriam Makéba tombe sous le charme et l'engage comme guitariste. Pendant cinq ans, de 2001 à 2006, il accompagnera la grande chanteuse sud africaine sur les plus gandes scènes du monde, se retrouvant souvent aux côtés de certaines de ses idoles: Santana, Georges Benson, Jonathan Butler etc... Ce premier album résume le parcours métissé de ce franco-béninois, né à Paris et ayant grandi à Dakar.
Seydou Zombra
