Simbin Project
Country Senegal Switzerland Genres urban jazz fusion Festival Sauti za Busara 2018 The Simbin Project was formed in 2016 under the initiative of the Swiss multi-instrumentalist and producer Fred Hirschy. Simbin Project’s strength and originality lie in blending the virtuosity of the West African kora, as played by Noumoucounda Cissoko, with the electronic and experimental sounds of the Swiss duo "Stade", including musical pioneers Christophe Calpini and Pierre Audétat.
For close to 20 years, Noumoucounda has toured the world and recorded with Positive Black Soul (Senegal); among the first African rap groups to play on international stages. Youssou N'Dour, Alpha Blondy, Didier Awadi, Stromae and Fredy Massamba are in the long list of artists who have worked with this fine kora player.
In 2004-2005, the Swiss duo "Stade" organized several meetings with musicians including Erik Truffaz, Elliott Sharp and Grégoire Maret. As a result, the album Freewheel was created. Improvisation, hip hop vocabulary, samplers and pads, this brilliant mix of jazz and electronic music gave birth later to several albums including two with rapper/singer Infinite Livez on the Big Dada-Ninja Tune label.Among its members the Simbin Project also has two horn players, Ganesh Geymeier, tenor saxophone and Zacharie Ksyk, trumpet. The group regularly features guest artists, such as the Senegalese griot Goundo Cissokho, or the rapper Rootwords.
The project is constantly seeking the right balance between traditional music and ultra-modernity: neither jazz-rock nor world music, but a truly original hybrid. Influenced by hip hop, neo soul and jazz, it revisits the West African repertory and opens it to new horizons.
With thanks to Pro Helvetia Johannesburg
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