Jaune Toujours & Gangbé Brass Band

Gangbé Brass Band was founded in 1994 in Cotonou. The eight-piece group swings and grooves like a mix of the better Balkan and Afro-Caribbean (brass) bands. Gangbé Brass Band mixes driving New Orleans jazz with funky afrobeat, Latin and juju and voodoo rhythms. The singing is in Fon, in which 'Gangbé' stands for 'sound of iron'. Clinking brass, once introduced in Benin by the French army, sets the tone, supplemented with lots of percussion.

They have already proven that the eight-piece group is up for an adventure with various collaborations in the past, including, in addition to the French Lo'Jo (Triban) and the American Hazmat Modine, also a number of joint concerts with Jaune Toujours.

Jaune Toujours evolved from a band with Brussels cult status to an internationally appreciated quality band. Their explosive, urban mix of music genres and languages ​​delights audiences and press far beyond the country's borders. With the energy of a rock group (without guitars!), the improvisational joy of a jazz combo, the open-mindedness of a world music group and the charisma of the street musician, they shouted their poetically pertinent views on society from the rooftops. Add a pinch of typical Brussels self-reflection and you know which party you are at. As can also be heard on their most recent CD KOLEKTIV (2009), for example, or on the new remix album Re:Plugged (2010), on which they had several tracks remixed by a fine selection of DJs and producers.

In 2006, the Belgians from Jaune Toujours already played together with the Beninese from the Gangbé Brass Band at the Brossela and Esperanzah festivals. Since then, both groups have met regularly and occasionally played a song together. Both groups were very much looking forward to expanding the collaboration even further, and when a balloon was released about this atVredeseilanden the circle was complete: Vredeseilanden has been working in Benin for some time and is launching its Benin campaign from autumn 2011 with the collaboration Jaune Toujours - Gangbé Brass Band, supported by Choux de Bruxelles (management Jaune Toujours) and the friendly Contrejour (management Gangbé Brass Band).