Régis Gizavo

As a teenager in Madagascar, Régis Gizavo played with a number of amateur. At 25, once he'd finished college, he set out on a journey across Madagascar, which allowed him to play with many musicians, both traditional and modern.

After he won the 1993 "Discoveries" music competition organised by Radio France Internationale, Gizavo set out for Europe. The music world gave him a warm welcome--he played with Manu Dibango, Ray Lema, Geoffrey Oryema, Lokua Kanza and others--and encouraged him in starting an international career. Drummer Francis Lassus invited him to join the group he was in the process of putting together, Bohéé Combo. After that, he accompanied Graeme Allwright, played on the albums of Zao, Jacques Higelin, Les Têtes Brûlées and others, and from time to time caught up with his old friend D'Gary in his group Jihéé. In 1993 he became the regular accordionist with Corsican group I'Muvrini, where he replaced jazzman Daniel Mille.
For his first solo album, recorded in 1995, Réégis opted for minimalism in the form of a duet with percussionist David Mirandon. The magical melodies of his original compositions reflect the eclectic tastes of this world.


Patrick Labesse