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Francis Mbappe

A native of Cameroon, Francis Mbappe is an unstoppable natural musician who is releasing his third album under his name, after having graced the stage with musical greats such as Herbie Hancock, Manu Dibango, Fela Kuti, Ashanti Tokoto, Francois Louga, and Ernesto Djedje.

By the age of nineteen Mbappe was bass player and musical director for Manu Dibango’s band, with whom he toured extensively from 1982 until 1990. He appears on the albums “Surtension”, “Abele Dance”, “Baobab Sunset” and the renowned “Waka Africa” release, which also features Peter Gabriel, Youssou Ndour, Salif Keita, and King Sunny Ade.

Upon arrival to New York City in the 1990’s, Francis started the band “FM TRIBE” with some of the most exciting, innovative players around. With funk in the conception, rock in the attitude, swing in the movement and soul in the spirit, Francis Mbappe led his band “FM TRIBE” through the New York City music circuit and recorded a stylistically revolutionary album entitled "Need Somebody."

Aaron Heick, former saxophonist, referred to Mbappe’s contribution to the cross-pollination of music as “essential. Francis is contributing something new and truly unique to this scene. He is on the verge of creating a new kind of music that contains many of the best elements of both traditions (jazz, funk, rhythm-n-blues with African music). It is so rare to find someone who is capable of pulling all these types of influences together and to actually create something new.”

Before becoming one of New York’s most sought after bass players, Francis also co-produced and arranged the album “Guido Vittale” for Koning Plank, featuring Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart, as well as working on music for the film “Young Maestro,” featuring Elizabeth Taylor and directed by Franco Zeffirelli.

A regular player at NYC’s “The Zinc Bar,” Francis has been deemed “a shining star” in the NYC world music scene. He has livened up all of the New York hot spots for many years as well as continued with his work as a producer under his music production company “FM GROOVE INC.”, bringing people of different origins, educations and backgrounds together, in an attempt to unify people through acts of artistic expression (and put out some damn good music in the process!).

The last production of Francis is an acoustic album entitled "Celebration." It contains songs both traditional and new. A mixture of simplicity, virtuosity and humility, this compilation of songs reflects the many planes of a life full of adventure, strength, passion and fire.

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"Perhaps the best thing about the new self-produced disc by Zinc regular Francis Mbappe (mmm-BAH-pay) is that he has figured out how to let rawness temper his jazz-bred snazziness." —K. Leander Williams, TIMEOUT

"Cameroonian bassist Francis Mbappe has been a session hotshot ever since he was doubling as leader of Manu "Soul Makossa" Dibango's touring band. Mbappe's new CD, Celebration, represents a breakthrough. It's where his native earthiness meets his jazz-bred slickness." —TIME OUT

"Francis Mbappe, from Cameroon, spent years as the bassist and arranger for Manu Dibango, the Cameroonian bandleader whose hit, "Soul Makossa" brought African pop to the world." —NEW YORK TIMES

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