Bluemangó

Driven by a hunger to shape their concept of contemporary jazz music with a perspective born out of their own life experience, Saint Lucian born artists and composers Richard Payne and Francis John decided to tap into the wellspring of the rich Creole heritage of their Caribbean homeland.

Accustomed to a diverse diet of Marley, Miles, Debussy, Jobim, Kassav and Corea, among others, groups such as the Yellowjackets, Ultramarine, Sixun and Weather Report nurtured their musical palate even further. An ever increasing fascination with Caribbean Folk music ultimately influenced the direction of the two young composers and in 2001 they embarked on a two-year odyssey of self discovery that would seek to integrate the indigenous, the smooth, the world beat and the avant-garde.

In 2003, Richard and Francis decided to record/arrange/produce their original compositions using some gifted artists from the Anglophone and Francophone Caribbean for their first self-titled CD project. These artists' virtuosity and unique styles would not only help to define the group's colour, but the intensity of that studio experience would March 2003 herald the birth of this new regional ensemble.

The music of Bluemangó is an exotic hybrid of indigenous rhythms intensely flavoured with contemporary jazz and continues to evolve with the addition of new & exciting compositions contributed by all of the cast members.

The essence of the group’s music may well have been found in this unapologetic celebration of a shared Pan-Caribbean identity.

Currently the group’s members are Pianist Richard Payne (Saint Lucia), Bassist Francis John (Saint Lucia), Guitarist Eric Bonheur (French Guiana), Drummer Dominique Bougrainville (Martinique), Saxophonist Andre Woodvine (Barbados), Percussionist Miki Télèphe (Martinique) and Vocalist Teddyson John (Saint Lucia). Over the course of their respective careers, the group's members have performed with well known musicians such as Kassav, Andy Narell, Tanya St. Val, David Rudder, and Mario Canonge among others. Bluemangó has also opened for artistes as varied as Hugh Masakela, John Legend, Sakésho, Kenny G and Richard Bona.

The group (whose six members live in four different Caribbean Territories) continues to defy the separation by sea of its members by achieving important milestones as a working unit within and outside the Caribbean Area. Recent performance highlights include: The CMAC Jazz Festival, Saint Lucia Jazz, Lamentin Jazz Festival, Metis'Arts Festival, The Terre de Blues Festival (Marie Galante) and the Festival Vibrations Caraïbes in Paris in October 2007.

The group has also been featured on French Television RFO and is the recipient of the prestigious M&C Fine Arts Gold Award for recorded music. Bluemangó is clearly a new breed of artists quickly carving out their place within the Caribbean's rich and unique musical landscape.

Recommanded by Jazz in the South/Labowi Promotions