WOMAD

Patrick Bebey

17:15 7th November on the Miller Building

Patrick Bebey Biography

Patrick Bebey is a musician, singer and composer. He plays the piano, the sanza (thumb piano), percussion and the Pygmy flute. His vocal techniques draws on the African heritage of his origins.
He happened to perform on numerous occasions with -among others- Miriam Makeba, CharlElie Couture, Kora Jazz Trio, Papa Wemba, Mory Kante, Roy Ayers, Lokua Kanza, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Minino Garay, John Williams and also with classical orchestras.

Patrick Bebey started playing the piano when he was 5 years. He studied classical music in Paris Conservatoire. He also studied jazz, Brazilian and African music.

His musical career began in 1983 when he founded his own group in Paris. Since then he performed around the world on many occasions. In 2000, he was invited to play on the main stage of the African Pavilion of the World Fair in Hannover.

Some of his projects in the last ten years led him;
- turn around the world with Miriam Makeba
- to the World Fair in Hanover with his father with whom he chained duo concerts in a festival of classical music in Germany
- Record and produce two albums for the South African singer Sam Tshabalala
- Compose music for a show called "Colors", sung by a choir of 40 children of CREA Aubervilliers (Center for Research and Artistic Awakening)
- compose a piece for pygmy flute and orchestra entitled "Timba", which was played since October 2000 by the Stuttgart Philharmonic orchestra, the Reutlingen Philarmonic orchestra, the Stuttgart Chamber orchestra...

Under the production Africa at the Opera ", he played a piece for pygmy flute, and choir in the company of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Gcina Mhlope and Francis Bebey.
Another production in 2002 with conductor Bernd Ruf (who led the Chris de Burgh philharmonic tour).
This time, Patrick wrote several pieces for African instruments (Sanza, Pygmy flute, percussion) and string orchestra (the Stuttgarter Kammerorchester).

The year 2004 saw on the road with his band, percussionist Minino Garay, the Basque singer Peio Serbielle, vibraphonist Roy Ayers and guitarists John Williams and John Etheridge (WEB trio: Williams / Etheridge / Bebey) for a show intimately mixing classical music, jazz and world music.
He was also invited to interpret his songs, accompanied by the Big Band WDR Cologne.
He also produced the album "Meadowlands" of South African singer Sam Tshabalala.

In 2007, his schedule includes concerts with the trio WEB, 4 exceptional evenings during which he will perform his music accompanied by the Symphony Orchestra of Reutlingen, a recording of this project "African Symphony" concerts with his group in Italy, Germany, a few dates with the European string quartet and... finalizing his new opus "Oa Na Mba."

During the concert with his band, Patrick is accompanied by the cream of the jazz and world music of Paris. These exceptional musicians allow him to give the best of himself, without ever leaving aside a large touch of humanism that characterizes him good.
He is truly a musician from Africa seeking to convey to the world the breath of ancestral African culture.
A mixture of seriousness, fantasy and humor.

(Biography supplied by artist)