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Armand SABAL-LECCO (ASL) was born in Cameroon a good child in a good family then developed an incontrollable interest in streetboard, motocross, drums and some other crazy things we're not even going to get into (see what I'm sayin' ?). Anyway, having very musically able brothers(also authors of stuff we cannot mention in public), Armand was at an early age exposed to all genres of music from the traditional sounds of the Pygmies to Wagner through Herbie Hancock, Fela, Uncle Medjo or Miles Davis and some artists whose names we're now ashamed to divulge.
In an attempt to take him away from the silver spoon context, and the possibility to stain a very public family name, Armand's father sent him very pronto to France where he was supposed to study, shut up, forget about anything that did not have to do with school, shape up... in other words become an upstanding son.
The land of Charlemagne offers a myriad of possibilities to a fertile mind and gifted hands of a mid-teenager. After a couple of years juggling a life of student, model and musician by night, Armand saw the light and focused on music... a decision which of course took away all privileges and good son status from his parents.
The cold change from the palaces to the galleys intensified his love for Reggae, Blues and Soul with a particular African intent. While carving a first name for himself and trying to score two meals a day (keep it real!), Manu Dibango became interested in this "young Cameroonian making mucho noise" in Paris, pioneering the new wave of African musicians who just had no damn respect for any rules!Afro Jazz-rock, Afro-funk , Afro-that, Aphrodite or Afro-shine(!) even Afro Winprey, everything was brought back to its African essence... From the early 80's, Paris was the center of the world music. Manu Dibango since his worldwide hit "Soul Makossa" (es su cosa, tambi..n), was definitely the leading man with the hottest band in all categories. He snatched Armand up and gave him much freedom to explore and artistically express himself.
From that point and with such worldwide exposure blah blah blah...America (NYC) with chairman Paul Simon, different vibe, different approach, different level period. Then Central Park concert: one act only -1000 000 people... and they cleaned up afterwards (we're talking about NYC)!
Paris staled musically for a minute (not a NY one by the way) after the Paul Simon tours, so Armand set for a westward bound. Hitting the floor running he attacked California with a bass, a kalimba, a blowgun and sometimes a loin cloth (still w/ me?). Los Angeles, Hollywood, who's who, who are you, Scoobi-doo, or-I'll-sue, pay-your-dues-or-do-voodoo, the land of the NWA, Tupac and Chewbacca received him with open arms. He reunited some of the finest cats in the LA progressive jazz scene and hit the town from all sides. Soon after, Armand began performing, recording and writing music for honorable artists such as Herbie Hancock, Stewart Copeland but also with friend and longtime inspiration Stanley Clarke (respected for his ninja barbecuing skills), John Patitucci, Don Grusin or the Brecker Brothers.
Some of his satisfied consumers are: Ringo Starr, Simon & Garfunkel, Peter Gabriel, Sir George Martin, Bob Marley, Seal, Alejandro Sanz, Jeff Beck, Jaco Pastorius(amen), Carole King, Brian Wilson, Ray Charles, Lionel Richie, Alannah Myles, Christine Aguilera, Ziggy Marley, Jao Bosco,Chris Botti, Robin Thicke, Afrika Bambaata, Providence, George Acogny...David Lee Roth.
That is what you wanted to know! What you need to know today, is Armand SABAL-LECCO's new band called "The Rest of the World". Did you pay attention during the credits (we're aware that some readers have ADD which leads to GFY* and sometimes YMCA)? We'll say it once more for the dude fronting in the back with the hat and a recorder; his bow-tie is really a camera!
Having been around the world (ya ya ya) , studying each and every country, The Rest of the World serves you in the comfort of your own house, ipod and even hut (for my peeps) a collection of grooves taking you beyond the velvet ropes of rock, afro-beat, funk, jazz, fire dance but not necessarily square dance, Mohican't dance or Dead-can-dance.
What does it sound like?? Without getting into a list of guests here, playing their tails off are Stewart Copeland, Stanley Clarke on a couple of songs. Can you or the one next to you think of Sly Stone meeting Miles Davis at a Bob Marley concert in Africa? If not and even if yes, after fixing your stereo CHECK IT OUT: it's a very bass-driven groove experience... an assortment of regular, piccolo, tenor, infra, contra and intra basses colored by diverse vocal harmonies spiced up by percussive elements to compel you to act a fool .
That's our story and we'll stick to it!!
N-Z
