Andre Manga

Composer | Arranger | Virtuoso Bassist

New Release "Voyages"
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Biography

Composer, arranger, and virtuoso bassist Andre Manga believes he was chosen for music even before he knew his own talent. “As long as I can remember, I wanted to create sound,” he says.
 
Manga’s parents, both doctors in Yaoundé, the capital city of Cameroon, Central Africa, enjoyed music. Andre’s father owned a music club and even played violin and Hawaiian guitar. When it came to Andre’s studies, academic excellence was priority and his parents insisted that his music should be put aside. Despite their illustrious efforts to keep him away from his passion, the lure of music persisted, as did destiny, foreshadowed in an encounter with world music celebrity Manu Dibango (“Soul Makossa”) at age 11. 

“ I had built a guitar for myself, ” Andre recalls. “The strings were from bicycle brake cables. I could even tune it a little – it didn’t matter, it was just a way to make sound. Concerned that music was interfering with his study, his parents sent Andre away to boarding school -­‐ which had the desired effect until the principal of the school started an orchestra that served to encourage Andre’s musical growth. He began to lead a secret life, seeking the company of other musicians while telling his parents he was at school. It was there, on the streets of Yaoundé, Andre learned how to play the scales, how to read the music, how to be music. 

The newly-­‐resolute artist progressed rapidly, playing bass with the Cameroon National Orchestra when he was 17. Despite golden opportunities to go to Europe, Andre remained in Cameroon. “ I thought if I left I would miss a big part of my culture, ” he says, “ and that was wise. I didn’t stay because I was lazy or afraid to leave, but to look deeper into my culture, the traditions and rhythms. And when I left Cameroon it wasn’t to go to Europe or somewhere else in the world, but to Gabon, Central Africa, to study its music. "

In 1988 Andre moved to Paris and toured internationally with Pierre Akendengue before, inevitably, he took a job as a keyboardist for Manu Dibango, whose fame had now spread to Europe. “ I have to salute Manu, ” says Andre “ His band was the best school I ever attended. I learned how to manage a band, how to write music how to make decisions out of nothing. At an early stage he introduced me to a lot of great artists who provided me with musical guidance. ”

While in France, Andre worked on other projects, such as assembling a team of Cameroonian musicians to record for the Paul Simon album RHYTHM OF THE SAINTS and conducting the Benin National Orchestra for a performance on Radio France International. He also played with Manu Dibango, Youssou N'dour and Salif Keita. Andre’s contributions to Dibango’s band also increased. In 1994 he performed, arranged, and co-­‐produced several tracks on Dibango’s star-­‐studded album WAKAFIKA, which featured King Sunny Ade, Peter Gabriel, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Sinead O’Connor, and several other world-­‐music luminaries. 

Having reached an artistic plateau in Paris, Andre scanned the horizon for new musical adventures. With a growing affinity for jazz, Andre moved to Los Angeles in 1995 to fulfill his vision. The music he had in mind would enjoy the melodic and harmonic freedom of jazz, yet preserve the complex African rhythms he had mastered. 

That goal manifested in his band, Dumazz. Its name combined the Cameroonian word for the baobab tree, a symbol of wisdom and traditionally a meeting place for village elders, and the word jazz, thus embodying the very essence of the wise, spiritual group of musicians who were rooted in jazz music. 

MOTHER RHYTHM, the debut album of Dumazz, features Andre’s festive package of energetic, jazz-­‐driven instrumental and vocal compositions. In assembling a band as diverse as his own experiences, Andre brought about a joyful synergy of unity and individuality. 

Following this transcontinental success, Andre’s musical evolution continued. From composing music for movies, to playing the Los Angeles exciting music scene, to touring the world with renowned singers and gracing the late-­‐night TV shows of Jay Lano and Jimmy Kimmel as well as early morning appearances on Good Morning America, Canada AM, in addition to the Oprah Show, Helen DeGeneres, Regis and Kelly and many others, Andre’s talent earned him an international reputation as one of the best bass players. He shared his talent with illustrious musicians such as David Zasloff, Marc Antoine, Andrae Crouch, Donny McClurkin, The Temptations, Patrice Rushen, Boys2Men, All4one, Chaka Khan, Peter White, Rick Brown, Howard Hewett, Jonathan Buttler, Ashley Maher, Paul Simon, Herbie Hancock, Kevin Peter Jones, Ziggy Marley, John Barnes, Andrea Boccelli and Josh Groban, to name a few. 

Musically Celebrated African Diva, Grammy-­‐Nominated singer Angelique Kidjo toured the world with Andre Manga as her Musical Director and bass player. He is also the musical director for the renowned group Les Nubians. Josh Groban, the international vocal sensation, embraced Andre as a perfect match for his array of world-­‐class musicians. Having toured with Josh in 2007, Andre is on board again for his “Illuminations” tour scheduled to start in mid-­‐2011. 

Music continues to speak through Andre’s soul, and he translates it for the rest of us through his bass, his songs, his talented touch of art. A new album is emerging from this Cameroonian musician who stayed true to the sound he heard in his mind’s heart, who once built his own marimba from bamboo to get a head-­‐jump to the base he was destined to play across oceans. 

Having journeyed from the core of Africa, through the capitals of Europe, into the glamour of America’s calling, Andre is finalizing his interpretation of this musical journey that surely makes his mentor proud, reflecting on the richness of his roots, and breathing the freedom of each note as it harmonizes life to the tune of his music, creating his own sound. “ 

I was about 7 years old when I built my first instrument, a sort of marimba made of bamboo and part of a tree trunk. I didn’t know what kind of scales I was playing but it was a very cool thing. ” 

A very cool thing, indeed. 

Sets

Voyages
12 tracks (57:58)
  • Tribology
    163 plays
  • Sue La Ndolo
    183 plays
  • Soul Makossa
    265 plays
  • Human Nature
    166 plays
  • Jazziko
    168 plays
  • Kaelé
    169 plays
  • Marché Mokolo
    164 plays
  • Zen Mendjang
    154 plays
  • Sophie
    153 plays
  • Yaoundé By Night
    167 plays
  • Mabola
    148 plays
  • Unmasked Feelings
    121 plays
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June 12, 12:55 AM
Welcome !

Welcome to the Andre Manga Blog and News portal. Thanks for visiting…I am on the road now with Josh Groban. Stay tuned and we’ll let you know the happenings soon!


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Tour

Monday, July 04, 2011
Washington DC  - Capital 4th - TV/PBS

Friday, July 08, 2011       
Minneapolis,MN - Target Center - Buy Tickets 
 
Saturday, July 09, 2011       
Green Bay,WI - Resch Center - Buy Tickets 

Tuesday, July 12, 2011       
Indianapolis,IN - Conseco Fieldhouse - Buy Tickets 

Wednesday, July 13, 2011   
Chicago,IL  - United Center - Buy Tickets 

Friday, July 15, 2011       
Cincinnatti,OH - US Bank Arena - Buy Tickets 
 
Saturday, July 16, 2011       
Detroit,MI  - The Palace of Auburn Hills - Buy Tickets 

Monday, July 18, 2011       
Toronto ON  - Air Canada Centre - Buy Tickets 
  
Tuesday, July 19, 2011       
London ON - John LaBatte Centre - Buy Tickets 

Friday, July 22, 2011       
Ottawa ON - Scotiabank Place Arena - Buy Tickets 
 
Saturday, July 23, 2011       
Montreal QC - Bell Centre - Buy Tickets 

Tuesday, July 26, 2011       
Boston,MA - TD  Garden - Buy Tickets 
 
Wednesday, July 27, 2011   
Washington DC - Verizon Center - Buy Tickets 

Tuesday, August 02, 2011   
Newark,NJ - Prudential Center - Buy Tickets 
 
Wednesday, August 03, 2011   
Pittsburgh,PA  - ConSol Energy Center - Buy Tickets 

Friday, August 05, 2011       
Columbus,OH - Schottenstein Center - Buy Tickets 
 
Saturday, August 06, 2011   
Grand Rapids,MI  - Van Andel Arena - Buy Tickets 

Tuesday, August 09, 2011   
Milwaukee,WI - Bradley Center - Buy Tickets 

Wednesday, August 10, 2011   
Des Moines,IA  - Wells Fargo Arena - Buy Tickets 
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