The diatonic accordion is one of the key instruments of traditional Malagasy music. Its "panting" and spinning melodies have blended in for nearly two centuries into the practical music of Grande Ile where it is often used to incite trances. Nevertheless, following the poverty that has stricken the country and its musicians, the instrument is becoming ever more rare: the Malagasy accordionist - a species prone to extinction.

With respect to this sad situation, Régis Gizavo is the exception. At the age of forty, ten of which were spent in Europe, this accordionist from Tuléar presents himself not only as a defender of the traditions of his region (where the ethic groups, Vezo, Masikoro and Mahafaly, co-exist), but also of modern, original music, absorbing like a sponge diverse influences with perfect ease. His experience in the country (immersion from his early childhood in trance music, performance of popular music with various variety groups, and pure research in collaboration with the guitarist D'Gary…) have all gone to make him an accomplished musician who, in 1990, was awarded Radio France International's "Discovery Prize".

Ever since his arrival in Europe the same year, he's been seen by the side of musicians of every tendency : jazz, Oriental, African, variety… It was thanks to the Corsican group, I Muvrini, with whom he's been performing since 1993, that his name became a household word. But it is in his own concerts and albums, as a duet with the percussionist, David Mirandon, that he expresses his true identity: that of a musician with his ears open and his heart irremediably Malagasy. If he left the diatonic accordion for the heavy chromatic one with 120 bass keys, it was to enlarge his playing possibilities and to be able to invent new techniques. Régis likes challenges, for example, that of this second album Samy Olombélo, was to add on a bass guitar for titles like "Aia Roze", as up until now, he's been playing the bass notes on the accordion. "Mine don't have any attack," he explains, "and I needed it. I had to work with my left hand in harmony with the bass guitar so that the two wouldn't conflict." Régis was also nostalgic for vocal harmonies, of which he deprived himself when performing as a duet, while in the studio, he joyfully threw himself into it. In the end, he now offers us an album of true songs with a popular charm tied all together with expertise and that touch of exhalation so particular to his tradition.

Discography :
"Mikéa", Indigo/Harmunia Mundi
"Samy Olombélo", Indigo/Harmunia Mundi

Contact:
MAD MINUTE MUSIC
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93400 Saint-Ouen
Tel:+33 (0)1 40 10 25 55
Fax:+33 (0)1 40 10 17 37
Web site: www.madminutemusic.com

LABEL BLEU
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BP 0631 80006 Amiens France
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