ALBUM Topium feat Djenmbi & Klod Kiavué

ELECTRO MUSIC MEETS THE ISLAND RHYTHMS OF GUADELOUPEAN GWOKA

This album is the result of a residency organized in 2019 in Guadeloupe by GEG (Guadeloupe Electronik Groove), in partnership with Musjo Music, during which the duo Topium meets Jacques-Marie Basses and Klod Kiavué. Topium is a Montreal electro-jazz duo composed of multi-instrumentalist Jérôme Dupuis-Cloutier and programmer-drummer Jonathan Gagné. Jacques-Marie Basses, alias Djenmbi (keyboards) and Klod Kiavué (percussion) are two musicians rooted in the Guadeloupean musical tradition, veterans of the Gwoka. This encounter and unprecedented exchange between the Quebec and Guadeloupean duo has resulted in an innovative musical creation that conveys the roots of Gwo-Ka through electro-jazz music. This fusion, which they themselves have named “Electro-Ka”, mixes with finesse modern and jazz sounds with the island rhythms of Guadeloupe. This album, Topium feat Djenmbi & Klod Kiavué, is a true artistic bridge between two cultures, it opens new horizons for traditional Caribbean music as well as for the world music, jazz and electronic scene.

This innovative and authentic creation breaks musical boundaries, while inexorably drawing on the history and The traditional Guadeloupean music of Gwoka.

A LAUNCHING CONCERT

The album “Topium feat Djenmbi & Klod Kiavué” will be presented in a launching concert during the event The New Faces of Afro-Jazz, Thursday, February 24 at 8:00 pm on Facebook Live on Nuits d’Afrique.

THE KEY TRACK ”WOULÉ”

The first track “Bo Bay Lanmen”, released last year, which means “to lend a hand”, introduced the spirit of this album. “Woulé”, the second key track, confirms the power of this opus. This track refers to the Woulé, one of the seven traditional rhythms that make up Gwoka. The word “Woulé” means “to roll” in the Kréyol language, but also “to work”, depending on the context. It is a three-beat rhythm, a kind of waltz that is very energetic and catchy. Viv pou woulé, “live to work”, or Lésé woulé, “let things roll”, this title invites everyone to choose their philosophy of life.

Listes des pistes

1. Bo Bay Lanmen

2. Woulé

3. Ti bedon

4. Filles de place

5. Flying Boys

6. Église

7. Rayon vert

8. Québec-Guadeloupe

Biographical notes

Topium was born in 2016, from the meeting of multi-instrumentalist Jérôme Dupuis-Cloutier and programmer-drummer Jonathan Gagné. They explore and fuse house music and some elements of jazz. Since its creation, the group has released several pieces accompanied by music videos. Their music has been featured in many festivals around the world, including Reunion Island, Cape Verde, Mexico, Tokyo, to name a few.

Jacques-Marie Basses (aka Djenmbi) is an experienced and innovative songwriter, keyboardist and singer. He is nicknamed “The Master of Gwoka Keyboards”. Klod Kiavué, a percussionist and vocalist with a long history in Gwoka music, has performed all over the world, including with American saxophonist and jazzman David Murray. Both artists are among the best known musicians in Guadeloupe in the world of Gwoka.