PIANIST, COMPOSER MARIO CANONGE

MARIO CANONGE is a pianist from Martinique F.W.I. He starts playing in his teen years and accompanies the church choir at Francois Church in Martinique. In1979, he starts studying music in Paris and takes part in several bands. In the early 80s, he mainly plays Latin music, notably with Manigua, before forming along with Nguyen Lê, Ultramarine, a jazz-rock-fusion group.

Inspired by the two most famous Caribbean pianists, Marius Cultier and Alain Jean-Marie, he quickly wins recognition for his talent and starts being quite much in demand (Lavelle, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Nicole Croisille, Ralph Thamar, as well as Carter Jefferson, Chico, Freeman, Turk Mauro, Simon Spang-Hanssen).

He also forms Sakiyo with Michel Alibo and starts a solo career with « Retour aux sources » in 1991. It is a turning point in his career which leads him to go back to his roots and its music, mazurka, and beguine mixed with jazz and zouk. With his group Kann’ he performs a lot, thus reaching a broad public from the French West Indies and Metropolitan France. For several years the quartet plays overseas as Mario keeps on playing with other artists as well (Kassav, Malavo) and recording in studios all styles of Caribbean music for Beethova Obas, Michel Jonasz, Laurent Voulz.

In 2002, Mario created Sakésho with Andy Narell, Michel Alibo, and Jean-Philippe Fanfant. The group releases two CDs and a DVD and takes part in many festivals. When he is not on the road, he enjoys playing with his old friend Etienne Mbappé, as well as Richard Bona, Gino Sitson, Manu Dibango whose African influences keep on broadening his already wide spectrum.

In 2004, new inspiration with a jazzy but yet Caribbean sound on his latest album Rhizome. Jacques Schwarz-Bart, Antonio Sanchez, and Roy Hargrove also take part in this journey, and a year-round Pan American tour starts with Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez. In 2008, Mario released a “live” album with Linley Marthe and Chander Sardjoe and took Rhizome back on many tours around the world. Other projects see the light, like for instance a piano and double bass duo Mario creates with Michel Zenino or a piano duo with Alain Jean-Marie. Meanwhile, Mario also accompanies singers like Tangora and Viviane Ginapé.

In 2011, Mario Canonge released “Mitan,” a jazz album welcomed by critics. At this point, “Mitan” is not only the title of his album, but it is also the “half-time” of his life. “The beginning of a new adventure, led by a desire to look forward, to grow and always evolve, a desire to reach and, with my fingers, lightly touch the essence.” During the summer, Mario and Michel Zenino play at Jazz à Porquerolles. The concert is filmed and is the base of a DVD released in early 2013.

By the end of the year, Mario plays on Dominica’s guitarist Cameron Pierre’s album, “Radio Jumbo.” He then meets Courtney Pine, who called him to play on “House of Legends” released late 2012. This period also sees the birth of a new promising trio, CAB, with Blick Bassy, a Cameroonian singer, and Adriano Tenorio DD, a young Brasilian percussionist. The band is touring on a regular basis and prepares an album to be released in 2014.

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