Born: January 18, 1983 Primary Instrument: Percussion
Percussions are the cores of music because they recall us to the genesis of sound: the heartbeat. If historians had to define what were the first musical devices ever created, the human voice would be the answer but percussion instruments such as hands and feet, sticks or rocks were almost certainly the next steps in the evolution of music. That’s probably what led Jérome Calciné to those instruments. Jérome Calciné is a young percussionist from La Réunion Island, a French territory in the Indian Ocean. Mastering the Afro-Cubanese basics, he also performs his traditional music, Maloya with the heartbeat sound of the Roulér percussion. Therefore, Jérome gathers his love for world music, afro-beat and jazz. Born in St Benoit, La Réunion, Jerome Calciné began as a drummer before being introduced to percussions. After a few year of Conservatory, he moved to France in Bordeaux to achieve his passion in a music school. At 23 he obtained his Diploma of Musical Studies in Jazz and integrated Meddy Gerville 's band as a percussionist. Meddy Gerville’s style could barely be defined as a fusion between the creative freedom of jazz and the complex rhythms of Maloya, the “Blues made in Reunion.” Through this professional collaboration, Jérome has played with great musicians like Matt Garrison , Horacio El Negro Hernandez, Dominique Di Piazza or Michel Alibo. His specificity as a musician is to mix the Roulér sonorities with the typically South American congas, the Afro-Peruvian cajón, the Middle Eastern derbuka and different accessories like chimes and triangle.
Last Updated: September 25, 2008
Meddy (Gerville) had assembled a talented group of musicians who related brilliantly to his musical language. His fellow Réunion islanders, Jim Celestin on saxophones and young Jerome Calcine on percussion, had the obvious cultural tie to Meddy based due to their common island pedigree. The inclusion, for this date, of bassist extraordinaire Matt Garrison and super traps master Horacio “ El Negro” Hernandez was an exciting and sympathetic choice that made for a great evening of music.
The rhythmic, and at times staccato, nature of most of this music was spellbinding and Garrison, Hernandez and percussionist Calcine showed that they could execute the difficult changes with ease. The audience could not help but clap to the beat -- when they could follow it .The smiles on the bandstand were indicative that the players were also having a good time with this vibrant music.
“The Réunion island Sound Comes to New York”
R Miriello, www.jazz.com
Primary Instrument:
Percussion
Willing to teach:
Intermediate to advanced students
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