Solo RAZAF

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Solo RAZAF&endash;a shortened form of his full last name, RAZAFINDRAKOTO&endash;was born in France of Madagascan parents, but spent his entire childhood with his grandparents in a village on the island of Madagascar, off the East African coast. He learned to play a number of instruments: percussions in a local brass band, classical guitar, bass and drums, before dedicating himself in particular to the guitar, on which he has become an innovative and original composer. Based now in Paris, his musical style marries the traditional tempos of Madagascar and the western part of the Indian Ocean to the open tunings stemming from his passion for various folk musics and jazzy harmonic progressions.

Solo RAZAF's own songs are in either French or Malagasy&endash;the language of Madagascar&endash;, or sometimes a combination of the two, with perhaps a bit of English thrown in besides. His voice, "as sweet as a dream" (Paris-Sorties), underlines the melodies and at times transforms itself into a percussion instrument. Solo also adds foot percussion to his performance: on his solo album all the tracks were recorded "en direct," without overdubbing, just as Solo performs in concert: he is the entire band all by himself!

Solo has played numerous European and American venues as a solo guitarist and singer, at times accompanied by his friend Passy Rakotomalala on shaker and valiha (a Madagascan harp). He appeared at Scullers Jazz Club in the spring 1995 edition of L'Air du temps, and struck more than one festival-goer as "the revelation of the year." He also tours regularly with Miriam Makeba, and appeared with her three years ago here at Symphony Hall where his spectacular guitar work earned rave reviews from the critics. He has also played with jazz greats like Manu Dibango and Dizzy Gillespie.

In Paris, a cross-roads of musical traditions from around the world, Solo RAZAF has become a producer of world music albums, concentrating on music from the Indian Ocean. In 1994 he produced and recorded the double CD, Fruits du voyage, the first album in a series entitled Open Notes under the patronage of Miriam Makeba. He played three cuts on the album himself.

His own albums include a 1992 compilation, Malgache Connection , a remarkable 1993 solo album, Guitare à balanciers ("Outrigger Guitar"), and several cuts on a recent album of Madagascan guitar music produced by Henry Kaiser and Paul Hostetter and released in the US by Shannachie Records, The Moon and the Banana Tree. 1997 marked his third appearance in L'Air du temps. He also appeared in Montréal at Le Coup de cœur francophone.

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Solo RAZAF aux Zygomates (novembre 1997)