Biography :
A multi- instrumentalist with rich classical-jazz-traditional music training. Ray LEMA holds a special place in the realm of world music. Since 1982, he has presented his audience with surprising works beautiful harmonies blending with the most complex rythms and synthesisers mixing with tradidional drums as well as intimate pieces for piano and vocals.
Born in Zaire, he first studied classical piano before transposing his knowledge onto the guitar and playing urban music in Kinshasa.
In 1974, he spent a year travelling throughout Zaire to investigate the music of the countrys 250 ethnical groups- discovering, collecting and recording their various rythms in order to form Zaires National Ballet.
In 1979, upon the invitation of the Rockfeller Foundation, he left Zaire for the US. In the early eighties, he returned to Paris , from where he has pursued his musical explorations since, offering us album after album featuring refined and uncommon music. He has toured the world over including Europe, the Americas, Africa and Japan. He also writes music for the cinema and theatre and produces/arranges for other artists. Ray LEMA was awarded the "Django d'Or" in october 2003 for the totality of his career.
On May 2009 Ray LEMA has been invited by the 85 musicians Jazz Orchestra from Sao Paulo - Brazil. The Maestro and artistic director, Joao Maurico GALINDO choose 13 musics composed by Ray Lema and adapted them for 02 concerts at the Auditorium Ibirapuera (São Paulo)with his symphonic orchestra. It turned out in a unique and original african symphony which will be released DVD/CD in march 2010. Ray Lema also performs in a piano solo as well with his African Jazz trio with Etienne MBAPPE on bass and Francis LASSUS on drums or with his brand new big band, the SAKA SAKA ORCHESTRA which will be featuring his next record (spring 2010).
Discography :
1982 : KOTEJA (Celluloïd)
1983 : KINSHASA WASHINGTON DC PARIS (Celluloïd)
1984 : THE RHYTHMATIST (with Steward Copeland)
1985 : MEDECINE (Celluloïd)
1988 : BWANA ZOULOU GANG
1989 : NANGADEEF (Mango)
1990 : GAIA (Mango)
1992 : EURO AFRICAN SUITE (with Joachim Khün) (Buda Musique)
1992 : RAY LEMA / PROFESSEUR STEFANOV ET L'ENSEMBLE PIRIN (Buda Musique)
1992 : UN TOUAREG S'EST MARIE AVEC UNE PYGMEE (with the KI-YI Mbock)
(Label bleu)
1994 : TOUT PARTOUT (Buda Musique)
1996 : GREEN LIGHT (Buda Musique)
1997 : STOP TIME (Buda Musique)
1998 : THE DREAM OF THE GAZELLE (Detour / Erato)
2000 : SAFI (with TYOUR GNAOUA) (Buda Musique)
2003 : BO de « Fatou la Malienne » et « Fatou L'Espoir » - (2 good)
2004 : MIZILA - piano solo (One Drop/Nocturne)
2007: PARADOX (LABORIE RECORD/NAIVE DISTRIBUTION)
More informations, pics, videos and musics on Ray Lema's web site : www.raylema.com.
J'ai mis une vidéo sur l'asso Coeur Afrik dont je m'occupe ainsi que
deux nouveaux titres que j'ai produit aussi pour l'asso: un
remixd'"Abidjan" et "Pourquoi".
Online Now!
