Meddy Gerville's Page

Pianist, songwriter, composer and singer Meddy Gerville is like a fresh summer breeze in
a music world of rare exceptions.  He is
an exotic gem that has yet to be savored sufficiently by U.S. music listeners,
yet he has been electrifying audiences the world over with his intricate and
compelling synthesis of Jazz and Maloya, indigenous music of his native Reunion
Island, for almost a decade.  Meddy’s voice
has been compared to Milton Nascimento and Al Jarreau, but these comparisons
fail to capture the unique timbre and rhythmic intensity of his soulful and
nuanced vocal approach.  Likewise, his
extraordinary compositional, pianistic and improvisational prowess is peerless
in its conception and execution, all amply demonstrated on his U.S. debut CD,
his seventh release worldwide, Fo Kronm La Vi.

“.
. . Meddy Gervilles' version of ‘Blue Rondo’ is the fastest I've ever heard it
played.  He has remarkable technique.  His improvisations show a great sense of
composition and development . . .”

                                                                                                                                    —Dave Brubeck

Meddy
was born in St. Pierre—the largest city in southern Reunion Island—in 1974, and
each step in his musical journey has led him towards his unique fusion of Jazz and
Maloya, characterized by rhythms of his native island played on various homegrown
instruments including ‘rouler,’ ‘kayanm’ and ‘ravan’ drums, all of which help account
for his astonishing originality.  From the
beginning of his career—when Meddy performed with Reunion’s most popular bands,
Baster, Ti Fock and Sabouk, touring in Europe, Africa and the U.S.—to the release
of his latest solo outing Fo Kronm la vi (2011),
Meddy has been spellbinding audiences around the world with the sound of his Maloya
Jazz.  He has worked with world-class musicians
such as Sixun bass player Michel Alibo, Dominique Di Piazza, percussion legend
Giovanni Hidalgo, Cuban drummer Horacio ‘El Negro’ Hernandez (voted Best World
Music Drummer by Modern Drummer Magazine
in 2011), Matthew Garrison (bassist with Herbie Hancock, John McLaughlin and
Pat Metheny) and World Music icon Danyèl Waro (winner of the 2010 WOMEX Artist
Award in Copenhagen), to name but a few. 

“The percussion is often in double time
to give a quite explosive thrust to a song while Gerville’s melodic input
enhances the propulsion through quicksilver phrases and the use of laser-like
close harmony vocals that are themselves hotly percussive.”—Kevin Le
Gendre, Jazzwise Magazine, U.K.

Fo Kronm La Vi is a multi-layered palate of alluring, fresh sounds with
an infectious, explosive polyrhythmic sensibility.  At the same time, it is a brilliant preview of
what Meddy Gerville is capable of in-person. 
Putting on Fo Kronm La Vi for
an intimate evening or a sophisticated gathering is a sure bet, but seeing this
talented, innovative performer live really brings home just how unique and engaging
Meddy is.  He has the ability to connect
with his audience in a very direct and heart-felt way.  ‘Artist’ is a word that is bandied about
rather cavalierly these days, but in the world of music there are few as truly deserving
of this honorific as Meddy Gerville.

“Meddy
Gerville is a fascinating artist who is developing his own unique approach to
world fusion.”

          —Ralph A. Miriello, Jazz.com

Visit
Meddy Gerville on his website at www.meddygerville.com

Contact:          Janet Castiel,
Redwood Entertainment, Inc. (212) 543-9998

                        info@redwoodentertainment.com - www.redwoodentertainment.com