Tam Echo Tam
(Brussels/Belgium)
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In General
"Multicoloured, poetical, inventive, and literally without boundaries, two men and two women clearly dare to compete in the land of Zap Mama".
Founded in 1993, the Brussel-based vocal group represent the rapidly changing melting pot of the Brussels misic-scene. Of French, Guayanese, Morrocon and Zairese extraction, TAM 'ECHO' TAM rely on their solid mastering of vocal expression to create an electric repertoire bringing in elements from gospel, jazz, African roots-music, French chanson and American folk-bop.
TAM 'ECHO' TAM in the first place is an encounter of four sensiblities, of four voices. Obvious instruments, TAM 'ECHO' TAM´s voices explore most playfully a capella singing, looking for a natural and direct communication.
Starting their work with improvisation and vocal games, new sounds come to live giving each song its particular tint. The mingle of genders and origins emphasizes all the more the musical variety. The four singers never imposed on themselves a particular style ot theme, they long to be the rhythmic and melodic echo of what surraounds them. The compositions absorb lights-hearted humor, grace and nostalgic love, always aiming at the greatest accurary in tone, timing and interpretation; but beyond the accuarcy they create suggestive soundscapes and lolour its many voices with a touch of blue overtones that often haunt its apparent cheerfulness.
In its musical exploitation TAM 'ECHO' TAM follow the road opened by music that, coming from Africa to America, melted in with the resources of the New World and created such incommensurable styles as salsa, gospel, jazz and since all four members have been educated in French, French chanson came in as a natural "exercise de style".
TAM 'ECHO' TAM are:
Valérie Lecot - Each Thursday morning, sports, class in the gymnasium of my college ... and it was THE revelation: my voice had echoed and I love to sing. 1985-1986 Music school "Les Trinitaires" in Metz, classical singing: 1987-1992: Music Academy of Brussels: six years of classical singing: 1992: encounter of TAM 'ECHO' TAM.
Larbi Alami - Born in Antwerp from a modest but large family, he has always sung. In 1988 he buys himself a four track and enjoys recording and comparing a capella songs he sings on his own. One thing leading to another, a proper style rose and he felt like creating his own band. In June 1992 he put an advertising in a Brussels newpaper...
Daniel Vincke - After five years of classical guitar lessons in an academy, he opted for the electrical guitar joining the rock band "Just One Shot" (1985-1990). Feeling like writing he created a duo in which he writes, composes and sings. Two musical crushes (Bobby Mc Ferrin and Zap Mama) come just in time for him to answer Larbi´s ad.
ENGLAND: Appearances in London during the Osmose '96 Festival in November at the Union Chapel, Islington, Battersea Arts Centre and Club 606 (Fulham Broadway).Folk Roots Magazine might write. Matters Musical Limited is agent. Summertour of festivals in July: Nottingham Riverside, Sidmouth Int.,York, Scotland-Africa. The Junction, Cambridge.
CANADA:Release via Diffusion III? Concerts ahead via Carmelle Pilon. (Flash Rose)
POLAND: Co.Di Promotion (Irena Walkowska) releases in March ?97.
"Folk blues fair" festival in March '97 and the Poznan Jazz Fair in November '97.
SPAIN: Fernando Casas releases on Sonifolk/Lyricon, Madrid.(label of Dead Can Dance), March ?97. Record launches in Madrid and Barcelona.
Pro-Thesis / World Music (Florençi Mas, Barcelona) will be their Spanish agent.
FRANCE: The CD is programmed on France Inter and through Quota (Association des radios associatives en France-18 free radios.On their playlist rating from n° 150 to n° 7)
Radio Résonance airs the CD, wants interview and is ready to help to promote the CD.
To follow up on the "Bienneale de la chanson Française" at the Botanique, Brussels, they went to Paris (Centre Wallonie-Bruxelles).
In May '96, Support act at Joffrey Oryema's concert in Lille.
They will appear at the Francofolies de la Rochelle summer ?97.
ZAÏRE: Festival in Kinshasa: 5 concerts at the end of May representing the Communauté Française de Belgique.
HOLLAND: Support act Bulgarian Voices Angelite, Tilburg. Interview KRO-TV for program "Markant Nederland"( on the air June 29th). Live "Spijkers" (Vara-Tv, October 26) Distribution AMG.
BELGIUM: Their performance at Entre-Vues was used for the production of a promotional video. In March, the RTBF invited them for the taping of an hour-long talkshow ("Les Notes s'envolent") This was on the air repeatedly during the summer 1996. Distribution AMG.
GERMANY: Releases in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and on samplers for Japan and the United States via Jaro-Medien, Bremen (BULGARIAN VOICES) who also act as agents. Release via Jaro in France.
Summary of releases: Belgium, Holland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Poland, prospection United States, Canada. Samplers United States, Japan.
Samplers Belgium:"Crossover The World" (1995, Crossover Productions) with a.o Mamady Keita, Largo, Chris Joris (whose records are also released on Lyrae)
"Rockgarden Premium" (1996, EVA/EMI) with a.o Arno, dEus, Luke Walter, K's Choice, Mad Dog Loose...
"Francofolies 94-96" (1996, Polygram) with a.o Patricia Kaas, Alain Bashung, Alain Souchon, Véronique Sanson, Khadja Nin...
Discography
A Cappella (1997) JARO 4202-2 / Tam'Echo'Tam
TAM ECHO TAM @ Myspace
