Bassist Etienne Mbappé’s second India tour kicks off in Delhi

Bassist Etienne Mbappé Photo: Lasse Eklof

Bass player and vocalist Etienne Mbappé played his maiden India concert at Blue Frog, Mumbai in August 2009. Like Richard Bonna, also a bassist and singer from Cameroon, Etienne seemed to be celebrating his music. The joy was obvious. His was a most interesting array of musicians. In his band, Cedric Baud (guitar), Jonathan Grandchamp (drums), Catherine Petit (vocal harmony) and Clement Janinet (acoustic violin), made an eclectic array of musicians in concert. Etienne Mbappé on vocals and a driving electric bass guitar, created a delicious sound of what were mainly his own compositions. Of course, the black silk gloves that Mbappé wears to produce a fatter bass sound generated a buzz as always. This time around, Mbappé will perform with Grammy-winning saxophonist Bill Evans, guitarist Marc Guillermont and Ranjit Barot, one of the most prolific drummers in the country. In fact, Mbappé has struck up a strong friendship with Barot, having performed with last year as part of John McLaughlin’s 4^th Dimension Tour.  We had an opportunity to have a long chat with Mbappé where he was most forthcoming:

I met Joe Zawinul (the legendary Austrian-American jazz pianist and jazz fusion innovator) some years ago here in Mumbai and he said that he thought of Cannonball Adderley (American jazz alto saxophonist from the Fifties) and Dinah Washington (American pianist also from the Fifties) ”“ with whom he had played, as his musical father and mother. Since you’ve played in Joe’s Zawinul Syndicate, would you think of yourself as his musical child?

Sure I would. I have learnt so much from Zawinul both on stage and from his stories about musicians while traveling, I am indebted to the man.

 How did you meet Joe Zawinul?

I was playing at a music festival in South Africa where African greats like Miriam Makeba (South African singer), Hugh Masekela (South African trumpeter) and Manu Dibango (Cameroonian saxophonist) were also performing. Joe Zawinul was also there; he heard my band, took my phone number and I thought he forgot about me. However, a year later, he called. Replacing Jaco Pastorius, whom I consider to be the God of bass was more than a dream come true.

Have any other bass players impressed you?

Oh yes! Since that time, I’ve heard Ray Brown, Ron Carter, Christian McBride and others who are real wizards of the instrument. McBride has also become a good friend.

How did you pick a band with a guitar, violin and vocals?

Our previous band had a sax player who left us suddenly to tour with a pop group for big money. I had heard Clement (Janinet on violin) with a string section in Paris and called him to replace the saxophonist. He was raw, had no passport but I’m happy we hired him.

He was marvelous in your band. I just wonder how an acoustic violin is supposed to compete with an electric guitar and your amplified bass. His sound was often drowned.

Only sound mixing can help. It’s quite a challenge for the sound technician!

How did you get your sound? Do you call it jazz?

As a child in Cameroon, I heard my father playing Louis Armstrong records. That was the only jazz I had heard. My family and I moved to France when I was 14. That’s when I first heard of The Beatles, Rolling Stones and Elvis Presley. Many different sounds around me have resulted in the music I now play. It comes straight from the heart. If I don’t enjoy it, I just don’t play it.

So the music comes first, then the thought of the money in it”¦.

Absolutely. The art is the real thing, not the money. We get paid very well playing at shows like The North Sea Festival. This gives us the freedom to play concerts where money is not a factor at all. I must travel and play in Cameroon every year, sometimes more than once. I would happily come again and play in India. I’ve always wanted to play here.

You know, Fats Waller sold all rights to “Ain’t Misbehavin” for $15. He also played for the art of the music”¦

Fats who? I don’t know him”¦

A great jazz pianist from the 1930s. Do you know any Indian musicians ?

Trilok Gurtu is a friend. I love his music. Also Zakir Hussain”¦he can do anything in music.

You mentioned Manu Dibango suing Michael Jackson during one of your shows. What happened there?

Manu Dibango is also from Cameroon. We have a basic dance rhythm called the Mokassa and Manu had a hit song called “Soul Mokassa.” It had a chorus line in it which went like “Mama se mama se mama si” and so on. It is very catchy. Michael Jackson used this refrain in Thriller and Manu Dibango sued him for millions! Some female singer has again used that chorus and maybe Dibango will make some more money!

More power to him! OK, Etienne what are your ambitions? What about your magnum opus?

You know, I always wanted my own band from the time I played music. I want to create the sound, not follow a leader. I am lucky to now have my own band. I am very happy with my young musicians. My drummer is 23, my violinist just 22. We are a very happy band, playing and learning together. I will say this is where I’ve always wanted to be. I’m very happy. We have a huge repertoire as a band and complement each other well. I cannot ask for more.

So how do you like India so far?

Very much. I’d love to come back and play here. Any time.  All you have to do is ask and we will be glad to come back!

Bill Evans & Ranjit Barot with Etienne Mbappé and Marc Guillermont perform at

Blue Frog,Delhi, June 6th

Blue Frog, Mumbai, June 7^th

Entry Rs 1000.

Tata Theatre, NCPA, Mumbai, June 8^th

Entry Rs 300, 500, 800