Level 42
The British band found success during the New Wave period, releasing very elegant jazz-funk, then its pop-rock hits which became very popular.
Level 42 was formed in 1979 by Mark King on bass, Phil Gould on drums, Boon Gould on guitar and Mike Lindup on keyboards. Encouraged to add vocals to this instrumental part, the musicians made King their lead singer and released their first self-titled album of soul rhythm and blues, before recording "The Early Tapes" in 1980. With their instantly recognisable sound, featuring Mark King's thumb-slap bass technique - which creates an impressive wall of sound called slapping bass - and the synthesiser flourishes of Wally Badarou - a partner from the beginning - Level 42 made a name for themselves as a jazz-funk fusion band, contemporaries of fellow British funk groups such as Atmosfear, Light of the World, Incognito and Beggar & Co. Having crossed over into sophisticated pop and dance-rock, Level 42 broadened their audience with the release of the album 'World Machine' in 1985, which placed them at the top of the charts in Britain and around the world. After the Gould brothers left the band, the group evolved over time, and were replaced by drummers Gary Husband, Pete Ray Biggin, as well as guitarists Alan Holdsworth and Nathan King. In 2010, Level 42 celebrated its 30th anniversary with a major international tour. The band continued to tour into 2016 with performances at festivals across Europe and Latin America. Watching Level 42 means diving back into the hits of an emblematic pop rock band, which was one of the pioneers of the Brit-funk movement.
Emile Londonien
On keyboard, bass and drums, the French collective, Emile Londonien, infuses their house and broken beat hits with a strong London jazz flavour.
The Emile Londonien trio, which results from the Strasbourg scene and the vast Omezis collective, based its name on two of its main influences: the French saxophonist Émile Parisien – who founded one of the most inspired French jazz quintets 20 years ago – and London jazz. Nils Boyny, the keyboard player, Théo Tritsch, the bassist, and Matthieu Drago, the drummer, all trained at the Strasbourg conservatory and have a background in the clubbing culture. They define their modern style as an ode to jazz, drawing on house, broken beat and hip hop. Regularly played on the BBC, their productions have been enthusiastically received, particularly in the UK, where praise has been prolific, starting with the influential DJ and producer Gilles Peterson himself, who sees them as heirs: "I recently saw these musicians live. They are creating a space for the celebration of jazz from the British scene of the past 10 to 15 years […] it's a real crossroads." Their first album, "Legacy", was acclaimed by critics and established the group as one of the leaders of the new jazz generation, thanks to this unique and successful fusion of tradition and contemporary music. Today, the trio is back with its new album, "Inwards", recorded between Strasbourg and London with several high-calibre guests, which hints at a live performance in keeping with their image.
