Vicky Edimo

VICTOR " VICKY " EDIMO discovered the electric bass while growing up in Cameroon when he was 14 . He quickly became a first call bassplayer throughout the country , backing up the most famous artists of the moment in Douala . He then got acquainted with different styles of music including : Jazz , Brazilian , funk , R'N'B as well as local music . Meanwhile , he was also the lead singer of his school band. In 1973 , at 19 years old , he moved to Paris, France.Three main encounters influenced and enabled him to enhance his professional path. At first he joined saxophonist Manu Dibango's band as main bassplayer for four years , recording four albums and different movie soundtracks . He also toured in different venues throughout the world , including the famous Olympia in Paris. But it was when he met producer Daniel Vangarde that he really started seeing the impact of his early recordings on the audience. His collaboration with Mr Vangarde gave birth to bands like THE GIBSON BROTHERS with whom he recorded hit albums such as " CUBA" and more. It's in early 80's , while being acknowledge as one of the world's top bassplayer , that he received a call from Charles Bobbit then James Brown's personal manager . He then asked Vicky to move to the US in order to work with him. From then on , Vicky has travelled back and forth between Paris and the Mythical recording studios on the west coast , as well as Nashville , Miami and else. He then took the opportunity to enroll in the Berklee College of music where he studied during a year while performing in different jazz clubs in the Boston area. Not forgetting Africa , he went to Nigeria afterwards in order to perform with local musicians , recorded his first solo album and moved to New-York city. Very quickly , he got very much in demand in different projects alongside excellent musicians such as Vernon Reid , Steve Coleman , Geri Allen , Wallace Roney , Arthur Blythe and Oliver Lake with whom he performed at the famed Apollo Theatre in N.Y.C. He then joined guitarist Kelvyn Bell , drummer Ronnie Burrage , Pianist Geri Allen to give birth to the group Kelvynator. With this band , vicky performed in N.Y.C jazz clubs such as MIKELL4S , S.O.B'S , 55 GRAND or 7th AVENUE SOUTH. Also in demand on the west coast , he travelled back and forth between the east coast and the studios in Los Angeles , working next to greats like Fred Wesley , Maceo Parker , Paulhino da Costa , Sonny Burke or James Gadson on different projects . The last one being the " African tribute to James brown world tour" Meanwhile , Paris became the center of world music , he then naturally moved back to France in order to express his american experiences through his african roots. He then started recording his second solo album produced by Zagora , and opened the Stanlet Clarke - George Duke act at the Tabarka jazz festival in Tunisia. Today , Victor " Vicky " Edimo is a songwriter , bassplayer , vocalis , arranger and producer of his own music . His style , blending the colors of Afro-funk-blues can be heard on his fourth solo album released in March 2015.

icky Edimo, bassiste camerounais, découvre la basse à l’âge de 13 ans. Il se forme alors en autodidacte, au contact de musiciens aînés tels que RidoBayonne. En deux ans de pratique, il devient l’un des bassistes les plus sollicités du pays. A 16 ans, lorsqu’il décroche son 1er contrat professionnel dans un cabaret très sélect, il doit faire le mur pour aller jouer de 22h à 5h du matin, tous les jours. Il y apprendra le jazz, la musette, les musiques brésiliennes, la funk, le R’n’B et bien d’autres styles. A 19 ans, il part étudier à Paris. En jouant dans les jam sessions parisiennes, il fait quelques jolies rencontres, dont le trompettiste Ray Stephen Oché, qui lui donne l’occasion de jouer avec Bobby Few. Il rencontre également le producteur Daniel Vangarde. Leur collaboration donnera naissance à des groupes tels que la Compagnie Créole, Ottawan, ou les Gibson Brothers. Le succès des albums enregistrés avec Manu Dibango ou les Gibson Borthers font de lui l'un des musiciens les plus demandés en studio. Il enregistre pour Dalida, Carlos, Johnny Halliday, Claude François, Michel Sardou, Sacha Distel, Sans compter les enregistrements de musiques de film et de publicité ! La carrière internationale de Vicky débute lorsque la manager de James Brown, Charles Bobbit, lu demande de refaire les lignes de basse de deux titres. Dans la foulée, il le présente à Bob Marley, pour lequel il jouera. S’en suivra des allers retours entre de célèbres studios américains et Paris. Vicky s’inscrit alors à la Berklee School of Music où il étudie un an. Dans la foulée, il enregistre dans le même temps son premier album solo « Thank-u-mama », avant de s’installer à New York. Il se produit également dans les plus grands clubs new-yorkais avec son groupe Kelvynator.Il revient en France, et se joint au groupe Touré Kunda. Après diverses collaborations et quelques scènes prestigieuses, notamment la première partie de Stanley Clarke et Georges Duke, il sort en 2007 son 3ème album, Jambo Africa. Aujourd’hui, Vicky s’apprête à nous dévoiler son 4ème album.