Dabeull
Galliano

Among all the recent sound trends, the return of the rhythms popularized in the 70s and 80s is the most exhilarating and nostalgic movement which seems very strong. The French artist Dabeull became a master in the art of giving them a new life. He was so driven by his passion for keyboards and vintage beatboxes but also his science of dreamy chords and contagious bass lines that he portrayed them in a character like his beloved music: sincerely passionate yet full of self-mockery, seductive yet never intimidating, specialised yet always accessible. In his YouTube videos with a meticulous staging showing impressive producing skills and a confidence which can only be admired while giving his art an expert feel, he chooses very tastefully some instruments in his collection to produce short disco pop-retro funk pieces which conquer the public, from France to Brazil. On stage, he does not give up his showmanship and he celebrates, with a group of experts, the essential element of these danceable and generous songs: the irresistible power of groove on the crowd, which had already taken over the globe in the last century.

After 25 years of absence, the band led by Robert Gallagher is making a great comeback to rekindle the flame of a musical diversity which has always been shining since the beginning in the 90s. At the dawn of a new millennium and of one of the most creative decades of world jazz, marked by fascinating British news, Galliano was able to gather all the styles composing London’s musical wealth: hard bop, jazz rock, dub, trip hop, house and funk. He contributed to inventing what was soon to be known as acid jazz. Its beats were festive, accessible yet experimental: between dancing tunes, its lyrics related to the contemporary social concerns raised questions which are still strikingly relevant. At a time when its successors are at the forefront of jazz in England, in France and in the rest of Europe, Galliano comes back at just the right time with a new album: as a statement of purpose, its title Halfway Somewhere shows a desire to pick up from where it left off in 1996, when its last album was released before this long break. Deeply rooted in its time without betraying its style, Robert Gallagher’s band connects a glorious past and a future still full of surprises.

Line-up : 

• Robert Gallagher (voice)
• Valerie Etienne (voice)
• Nathanael Martin (guitar)
• Ski Oakenfull (synthesiser)
• Ernie McKone (bass)
• Crispin Taylor (drums)