Collaborative project by ToTarTu featuring Street Musician Seban Bebe and Vocalist/Composer, Denis Chevallier (http://www.denis-chevallier.fr/):
ToTarTu is on a Berlin project to record the street musicians he finds in the city of Berlin.
On one late Summer afternoon on the canals in Berlin, Maybachufer to be exact, ToTarTu could hear the familiar sounds of a trumpet coming closer.
Before long, the Trumpet Player was performing out the front of the bar/restaurant where ToTarTu was enjoying the rhythm of the city. Not to miss out on such an opportunity, ToTarTu asked Seban if he would like to be part of the Street Musician Project…and we have the result above.
Seban performed “When The Saints Go Marching In”. The piece is an American gospel hymn according to Wikipedia. The precise origins of the song are not known. Though it originated as a Christian hymn it is often played by jazz bands.
Unfortunately Seban does not have a website nor contact details. He is a roaming street musician who walks the streets and plays numbers to people out the front of restaurants. Computers and mobile phones do not interest him.
ToTarTu was also very lucky to meet Denis Chevallier who is a composer from Paris.
Monsieur Chevallier is a gifted harpsichordist and pianist, and sings very well.
And sometimes whilst having time out from his busy schedule in Paris writing music and performing in concerts, you can find him singing in bars in Berlin.
Although Denis is not a street musician, ToTarTu was fortunate to have his input and participation in the project.
He improvised some vocals inspired from the gospel song, imitating in some places the original melody and giving a more polyphonic twist to the piece.
If you listen closely you will hear some words of the song sung in French.
ToTarTu has added the electronic sounds giving the piece yet another twist.
The “When the Saints Go Marching In” collaborative project has been a lot of fun.
The trumpet playing by Seban, with the vocals by Denis and, the electronica input by ToTarTu has created a unique different interpretation of the jazz piece.
If you are lucky enough, you will hear Seban playing this summer in Berlin…and as you soak up the cool city vibes you may well hum along in French to Seban’s next brass number!
For further information on Denis Chevallier, please visit his website – http://www.denis-chevallier.fr.
* Disclaimer – all work produced and posted is done so on an artistic basis and is there for the promotion of artists and musicians alike.