Sam Smala – Live Gypsy-jazz and Word music at Gorky Sadan Auditorium, Kolkata

Sunday 13 June 2010

Alliance Française and Gorky Sadan presents SAM SMALA – Live in Concert.

“SMALA” is a word which comes from North Africa and means “family”, and music from the group Sam Smala evokes the feeling of warmth that family inspires. These five incredible performers, all great jazzmen who have studied in some of the greatest music schools in the world, are inspired by jazz, gypsy jazz and world music. This band takes you from Havana to Paris, from New York to Istanbul without pretention, with an extraordinary “joie de vivre”.

Samuel Strouk (Guitar)

Samuel Strouk performed, at the age of 26, his first solo concert at the Beaux Arts de Lima auditorium. In 2008, he worked on three albums and along with other musicians composed and recorded musical scores for films and documentaries (Baby Love Lambert Wilson, Résistance France 2). He is the composer, the arranger and the singer of “Carhabana”- an amazing fusion of Cuban jazz and Manouche jazz. This artist also conducts “Master Class” and teaches jazz Manouche.

Guillaume MARIN (Bass)

Guillaume MARIN began playing music at the age of nine. He studied saxophone and classical music for ten years at the Conservatoire de Montpellier. Later, it is with the help of the electric bass that he explored other musical styles – jazz, funk and flamenco …

Quentin BRAINE (Drums)

He discovered music at a very young age alongside his father Alain Braine, guitarist, saxophonist and singer. He tried his hands at playing drums at the age of three during a rehearsal at home and ever since his passion for drums has never left him. The percussionist now lives in Paris, plays with various formations, “Samuel” being one of them and is part and parcel of numerous projects inspired by a wide range of styles: jazz, soul, hip-hop, fusion, funk and rock.

Mathias LEVY (Violin & Guitar)

He was awarded the first prize for violin and Chamber music at the Conservatoire de Raincy in 1999. This musician has performed more than 400 concerts with the group Caravan Quartet and has toured Turkey, Cuba and Pakistan. He has composed musical scores for theatre and cinema and regularly plays as part of the Trio with Samuel Strouk and Denis Rézard for the project “Samuel”

Serena FISSEAU (Singer)

Of Indonesian origin, Serena FISSEAU has been singing since the age of 17. She grew up listening to gospel music and jazz. Each artist that she met has added to her musical culture and helped her perfect her profession. This polyglot singer launched the group “Bahasabé” which has performed at different locations across the globe and has also released three albums. This singer also teaches music and conducts workshops regularly in France

Please call Kalyan at 9830296942 for invitation passes.