Untiring, Jean-Claude Naimro, who travelled all over the planet with the band Kassav’ for 40 years, is back on tour in early 2023. This new series of meetings with the audience is called Digital Tour and it already began in his native island, Martinique, on February 9 and 10 to take him to the French capital on March 18. This moment is highly anticipated by the fans who feel “orphaned” since one of Kassav’ leaders, Jacob Desvarieux, was taken by the Covid-19 pandemic in July 2021. This tour is also certainly a way to tell the world that Zouk, this music born in the French and Creole Caribbean, is not dead. He is often asked if Kassav’ can live without Guadeloupean guitarist and singer…
Born in 1951 in Saint-Pierre, Martinique, Jean-Claude Naimro became a pianist, composer, performer and arranger after having followed a classical path while being part of several bands of RnB and Caribbean influence. During his rich career, he worked as a studio pianist with French variety stars (Michel Fugain, Philippe Lavil, Eddy Mitchell, Éric Charden). After a brief foray into salsa with Martinican musician Henri Guédon and Panamanian singer Azuquita, he collaborated with Cameroonian musicians. In 1981, he joined the band Kassav’ which he never left except in 1993 when he accompanied British singer Peter Gabriel for a year on his Secret World tour. The member of Kassav’ collaborated with well-known artists from Martinique : Édith Lefel, Ralph Tamar, Ronald Rubinel, Jocelyne Béroard …
During this concert at the Trianon located in the 18th district of Paris, Jean-Claude Naimro will be surrounded by a team of talented musicians and choristers namely: Didier Davidas (keyboards), Alex Cabit (guitar), Mike Clinton (bass), Bago Balthazar (percussion), Lawrence Clais (drums), Jean-Philippe Meyniac (saxophone), Philippe Slominski (trumpet); Valérie Tribord, Marie Paule Tribord and Jean-Jacques Seba (choirs).
The pianist invited two other members of Kassav’ – Jocelyne Béroard and Georges Décimus – as well as four other artists – Ralph Thamar, Tony Chasseur, Cindy Marthély and Greg’z – to share the stage with him during this great zouk concert.
