Artist Bio
Mao Otayeck defines himself as an “all terrain musician” whose roots originated from France, Lebanon, Mali, the Ivory Coast, and Argentina. Since the age of 9, Mao has been playing eclectic styles such as Afro-jazz, reggae, Latino, Caribbean, rock, funk and Celtic.
His initial artistic collaborations in Paris with the legendary Afro-jazz musician Cheick Tidiane Seck and Tony Allen, Fela Kuti's drummer, marked the beginning of his professional career. In 1993, he began a 10-year collaboration with African reggae artist Alpha Blondy as band leader and guitarist for the Solar System. Mao has left his stamp on a number of albums from a variety of artists as guitarist, songwriter, composer, and arranger.
Mao Otayeck is the first French speaking African artist to be discovered and sponsored by Stevie Wonder. The extraordinary collaboration at Wonderland Studios in Los Angeles between a Motown legend and his new ‘protégé’, resulted in his first solo album “RENEWAL”.
Recorded and mixed with Rob Arbittier and Gary Olazabal at Noisy Neighbors Studios in L.A, “RENEWAL” album is an eclectic blend of soul, rock, and African rhythms, and reveals his sensitive and deep talent.
Stevie Wonder composed the opening track “Wait”, then featured on the rock track “Carry On” playing the harmonica. The album, made in collaboration with Jacob Desvarieux and Jean-Philippe Rykiel sets the tone for the artist’s captivating emotional genre.
Mao Otayeck has toured around the world with respected and well known artists such as Alpha Blondy, Cheick Tidiane Seck, Tony Allen, Will Calhoun, Doug Wimbish and “Mudbone” Cooper as a guitar player, background vocal and band leader (Elohim Tour, Yitzhak Rabin Tour, Jazz Aspen Snowmass Festival, Red Rock Festival, Reggae on the river festival, Monterey Bay Reggaefest, Olympia, Bercy, Zenith in Paris, Tribeka Center Jazz festival in NY, Montreux Jazz Festival…to name a few).
Since his remarkable performance in Paris-Bercy, during Stevie Wonder’s concert on September 28, 2008, Mao has been in Los Angeles where he is preparing a live tour that will thrill and delight his growing list of fans.
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