Jerry Leonide - The Key (2014)

'The Key', the debut album of the Mauritian pianist Jerry Léonide, is the key to a whole world; to the music and joie de vivre of an island paradise 1,700 km from the coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. Léonide translates the irresistible, bouncingly danceable, clearly African influenced grooves and light and breezy crystal-clear melodies of his homeland into the vocabulary of jazz. He himself says of his debut: "For me 'The Key' is the revelation of Mauritian music before the eyes of the world." His global piano playing enthralled the jury of the 'Solo Piano Competition 2013' at the Montreux Jazz Festival so much that they awarded him first prize. 'The rhythms and melodies from Mauritius are part of my musical DNA. It's from them that I draw my ideas, and I am sure that they are also where the originality of my music comes from. And I have always been open to jazz, classic and the widest range of traditional music.' 'The Key' now opens the door to a whole new musical world for a broad audience.

Tracklist:

01. Independance Day, Pt. 1
02. Mauritius
03. Black River Road
04. The Key
05. Rue de Paris, Pt. 1
06. Rue de Paris, Pt. 2
07. Paul et Virgine
08. Dodo Baba
09. Strong Relationship
10. South East Winds
11. Independance Day, Pt. 2

Personnel:

Jerry Léonide - piano
Gino Chantoiseau - double bass
Jhonny Joseph - drums & percussion
Sylvain Gontard - flugelhorn
Vincent Lê Quang - soprano saxophone

Guests:

Woz Kaly - vocals (on 03)
Benjamin Petit - alto saxophone (on 02)
Linley Marthe - electric bass (on 05 & 06)
Fred Grenade - electric bass (on 08)
Christophe Chretien - percussion (on 05 & 06)
Fannie Klein - background vocals (on 03 & 08)