HCMC – Concert of Lo’jo

Tue 25 Jun 2013, 8 pm
IDECAF

From the organizer:

Come to a world music concert with the group LO’JO. Lo’Jo are a group of France-based musicians, performing and recording a blend of world music with strong North African as well as French folk elements.

The concert is a part of the 40 year celebration of diplomatic relation of France – Vietnam.

The band was founded in 1982 in Angers by singer/keyboardist Denis Péan and Richard Bourreau (violin/kora). These two have remained central to Lo’Jo throughout their history. For several years, with a rotating cast of members, they played events locally, working with acrobats, street theatre, mime, dancers and film as part of their overall presentation. They have subsequently maintained a communal lifestyle, based in Angers.

By the end of the 1980s, they were playing throughout Europe and had appeared in New York as part of an artists’ collective. Including Nicholas ‘Kham’ Meslien (bass) and Matthieu Rousseau (drums) (later replaced by Franck Vaillant), they consolidated their line-up, and their first album, Fils de Zamal, was released in 1993. In 1995 the group added Berber singer/saxophonist Yamina Nid El Mourid and her sister, Nadia, who brought a strong North African influence to the music. In 1996, the new lineup recorded Sin Acabar, and 1997 saw them complete Mojo Radio, both with English producer Justin Adams. Upon the latter’s release they found more acclaim in the world music community, getting them on the WOMAD circuit.

In 1999, they journeyed to Bamako, Mali, to begin work on Bohème de Cristal. While in Mali, they became involved in the organization of the Desert Music Festival held in January 2001. They have also collaborated with a wide variety of musicians, including Tinariwen.

In 2002 they released the acclaimed Au Cabaret Sauvage (originally issued in France as L’une des Siens). This was followed by a live album Ce Soir Là (2003), and a new studio album Bazar Savant (2006). In 2009 they released the album Cosmophono, and toured in the UK.

2012 is Lo’Jo’s thirtieth year of existence, and Cinema el Mundo is their thirteenth album. Lo’Jo brings sounds, instruments, experiences and friends back to the blank canvas of their native land.

Denis Péan: vocals, indian harmonium, piano, sampler.
Richard Bourreau: violin, imzad, kora.
Nadia Nid El Mourid: vocals, percussions.
Yamina Nid El Mourid: vocals, kamel n’goni, soprano saxophone, percussion.
Kham Meslien: bass guitar, double bass.
Baptiste Brondy: hand drums and cymbals.

Program

1. Tout est Fragile
2. La Marseillaise En Créole
3. Deux Batons
4. Magnétik
5. Au temps qui passé
6. Zetwal
7. Alger
8. Lila
9. El Cabo Blanco
10. Vientiane
11. Au début

Tickets

Entrance: 100.000 VND (50% discount for students)
Tickets on sale at the IDECAF. Tel : (08) 38 23 99 68

Lo’jo also performs at L’Espace Hanoi on 26 Jun.