From descarga.com
Chiemi Nakai & Emmanuel Bizeau Afro-Cuban Jazz Project
Bridges
CD (Chiemi 300785), Released 2008;
Editor's Pick:
If you are getting tired of the vocals and repetitive arrangements in your salsa collection, turn to the dynamic duo of Japanese pianist Chiemi Nakai and French percussionist Emmanuel “Manu” Bizeau for a fresh look at our music. Bridges is a really solid Latin jazz album with some great performances and a pleasing, clean sound overall. The Zen quality of complexity in simplicity is evident throughout, and each musician gets a chance to shine in an uncluttered environment provided by Nakai and Bizeau. Chiemi is a master of her instrument and can play mellow or extremely hot; she has played with members of Orquesta de la Luz in Japan, and joined Jimmy Bosch’s big band on tour in Europe in 2002. Playing Latin piano since 1993 in her native Osaka, Nakai came to the U.S. in 2000 to enter the Aaron Copeland School of Music at Queens College to study big band jazz arrangement under Michael Phillip Mossman and take lessons with Sir Roland Hanna. She graduated fromQueens College with an M.A. in Jazz Performance in 2002. Currently active on the New York scene, she is joined on this date by some heavy hitters, friends with whom she has performed in the past: multi-talented Cuban singer songwriter Juan Carlos Formell, the incredible Richie Flores on timbales and bongos, Carlos Del Pino on bass, Marvin Diz (on a withering timbales solo), the seriously talented Jimmy Bosch, and Roberto Pitre on flute, to name a few. Sultry singer Mari Koga adds her winsome vocals to the contemplative jazz-bolero “The Moon On The Water,” accompanied by some outstanding bass playing by Noriko Ueda. A particular favorite is the funky “Más y Más” where my man Jimmy Bosch blows some sabroso ‘bone – my only quibble is the fade. On the standout track “The Flying Grey Cat,” Manu Bizeau’s itolete batá drum is joined by Jerome Goldschmit on iya and okonkolo, and Formell plays some very expressive and Yoruba-inspired bass. Quite mesmerizing and joyful. Manu, a leader in his own right for the band Grupo Omelenko, keeps the percussion snappy and authentic throughout, with a fiery rolling bata/conga solo featured during a tasty take on the Pedro Flores chestnut “Obsessión.” As a younger man Bizeau followed his Latin muse and traveled to Cuba to dedicate his life to el tambor, learning from the likes of José Luis “Changuito” Quintana as well as Alberto Villareal of Conjunto Folklorico Nacional de Cuba. He went on to play in Europe and South America with Yuri Buenaventura, Azuquita, Miguel “Angá” Díaz, and Afredo Rodríguez. Bridges seems like a match made in heaven, outlining the percussive and melodic connections that form a bridge between the piano and the drum, instruments that share African roots.
Highly Recommended. (Pablo Yglesias, 2008-03-30)
Song titles include:
La Frontera 4:55
Nueva Vision 2 5:08
Fragments Of Sadness 7:10
Obsession 7:30
Azul 7:31
The Moon On The Water 6:55
Mas Y Mas 4:46
The Flying Gray Cat 4:22
Sedona 8:01
Musicians include:
Chiemi Nakai Piano
Emmanuel "Manu" Bizeau Congas, campana
Juan Carlos Formell Bass
William "Beaver" Bausch Drums
Carlos Del Pino Bass
Richie Flores Timbales and bongos
Roberto Pitre Flute
Marvin Diaz Timbales solo
Jorge Bringas Bass
Ludwig Alfonso Drums
Mari Koga Vocals
Noriko Ueda Bass
Mike Herscher Bass
Jerome Goldschmit Drums set, guiro
Jimmy Bosch Trombone solo
Mario Rodriguez Bass
-NUEVA VISION 2(C. Nakai)
Chiemi Nakai:Piano/
Richie Flores:Timbales,Bongo,Campana/
Manu Bizeau:Congas,quinto,Guiro,Chekere/
Carlos del Pino:Bass
-AZUL(C. Nakai)
Chiemi Nakai:Piano/
Manu Bizeau:Congas/
Ludwig Alfonso:Drums
Mario Rodriguez:Bass
-THE MOON ON THE WATER(Music C. Nakai and Lyrics M. Koga)
Chiemi Nakai:Piano/
Manu Bizeau:All percussions/
Mari Koga:Vocal/
Noriko:Bass
-OBSESION(Music P. Flores,Arr.M. Bizeau and C. Nakai)
Chiemi Nakai:Piano/
Manu Bizeau:All Percussions/
Jorge Bringas:Bass/
Roberto Pitre:Flute/
Marvin Diz:Timbales solo
Influences
CUBAN MUSIC from the Folk to Timba music,JAZZ,LATIN JAZZ,SALSA,INDIAN MUSIC,CLASSICAL etc...
Sounds Like
I edited my profile with Thomas Myspace Editor V4.4 (www.strikefile.com/myspace)
Emmanuel Bizeau: A native of France,Paris,began to play percussions from 17 years old.Being aspired Afro-Cuban music,totally 3 years during 1991 to 1996,went to Cuba and had studied under Miguel Valdez Aballi(Emiliano Salvador),Conrado"Coqui"Garcia(E.Salvador),Jose Luis"Changuito"Quintana,Roberto"Guayacan"Hernandez(Los Van Van), Tomas"Panga"Ramos(Cubanismo),Alberto Villareal(Conjunto Folclorico Nacional de Cuba) and ROGER FIXI(ILUYENKORI).On 1994,he joined French latin jazz group ZUMBAO and Venezuelan group MADERA and travelled to France and Venezuela,it called ZUMBADERA including a famous singer ORLANDO"WATUSI"CASTILLO.Also joined their recording in 1994 and 1995. He also worked during 4 years with ILUYENKORI led by ROGER FIXY also with AZUQUITA(singer) y su MELAO,RAUL PAZ(singer),YURI BUENAVENTURA(singer),MIGUEL"ANGA"DIAZ(perc.),ORLANDO POLEO(perc.),ALFREDO RODRIGUEZ(piano),ROBERTO IGLESIAS(singer),LUIS MANRESA(bass) y el EQUIPO,MAMBOMANIA BIG BAND(led BY LAURENT ERDOS and MARC VORCHIN),ALFREDO"CUTUFLA"(perc.),EMMANUEL MASSAROTTI(piano)BAND, REMBERT EGUES(piano and Vibes),MAGGIE CARLES(singer) and many other local band.Since he has been expanding his career in NEW YORK and worked with JOHNNY ALMENDRA(perc.) y LOS JOVENES del BARRIO,YOKO RODRIGUEZ(singer) y la ESENCIA,RALPH IRIZARRY(perc.),ARTURO O..FARRILL(piano)RAY VEGA(tp),JUAN CARLOS FORMELL(bass), ROBERTO PITRE y TAMBO JAZZ,JIMMY BOSCH BAND,CHIEMI NAKAI(piano) Afro Cuban Project,CARLOS del PINO(bass) Jazz Project,Grupo SABROSONGO,EDWIN VAZQUEZ,Gupo OCHUN,Grupo IGBORU etc....EMMANUEL"Manu"BIZEAU play exclusively MOPERC Congas instruments.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------- http://www.moperc.com/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
discography:
1992:ILUYENKORI/Yakota,Cuban drums/Afro-cuban-
1992:GILLES FOURNIER/Roules/world music-
1993:TRIO AMMOUR/world music-
1994:ZUMBADERA/Marseille Caracas/salsa-latin jazz-
1995:DOMINIQUE SYLVAIN/Reconnais/world music-
2000:ZUMBAO/Venezuela Canta/salsa-latin jazz(Recorded in 1996) 2000:ANTONIO OCASIO/Whisper Loudly/DJ project-
2001:ANTONIO OCASIO/Music from the heart/DJ-
2002:ANTONIO OCASIO/Organic energy/DJ-
2002:CHRIS PARRELLO..S/Homenade parachutes/jazz-
2002:LA ONDA VA BIEN/La Vuelta/latin jazz-
2003:ANTONIO OCASIO/Latin quarter/DJ Project-
2003:CHIEMI NAKAI/La frontera/latin jazz-
2004:ANTONIO OCASIO/Ibadan People/DJ-
2004:MARQUES WYATT/Horizons/DJ-
2005:YUKA/Cole Porter latin groove/latin jazz-
2007:ROBERTO PITRE/Vida al vivo/latin jazz-
2008:Chiemi Nakai & Emmanuel Bizeau/BRIDGES/latin jazz-
2008:WILLIE TOORRES NYC Salsa Project/Lo que traigo yo/Salsa
yo manu, ça fait plaisir de savoir que Bruno est passé te voir et très honoré de ce que tu me dis, même si j'imagine que tu risque de t'ennuyer un peu à paname. Bref sinon, tt va bien pour moi ça joue pas mal en ce moment, à droite à gauche et au milieu aussi. je te raconterai... a plouch Nils
You may or may not remember me from my drummer's and percussion gallery, an idea I had a few years back which at the time I thought was good but in the end didn't fair too well. Such are the days of life, somethings fly and some things don't.
As I listen to the music here on your page, and your flawles playing, I realize that it really has been too long since the last time I surfed over to your page to see what's happening. The loss, has truly been mine.
'Obsession' is a work of art and I'm running off to get my copy as soon as I'm done here. I hope your having a wonderful weekend and that you are well.
Hi, If you live in New York or the surroundings you can help the French band Jack Dupon by contacting Dave Roberge from Transit Music Group. Here to comment : www.myspace.com/transitmusicgroup Here for an e-mail : transitmusic2@aol.com And tell him, Yes we want Jack Dupon for a United-States-Tour in 2010. Thanks and greetings from France......