A Montreal Afro-funk collective existing since 2002, Papagroove is a group of thirteen musicians from a diversity of well known groups (La Chango Family, Dobacaracol, Jean Leloup, Loco Locass).

Papagroove came to life during weekly, improvised jam sessions in autumn 2002, while its founding musicians had commitments to various other musical projects. Gabriel Lajoie (bass), Sylvain Plante (drums), Martin Lizotte (keyboards), and Didace Grondin (guitar) brought together friends, sharing their talents and common passion for funk and Afrobeat music.

In the following months, the 'collective' began to take form. An imposing brass section was added, made-up of Jean-François Ouellet (baritone sax), Philippe Dalpé (alto sax) and Mario Allard (tenor sax), the trombonist Matthieu Van Vliet as well as trumpeter Jacques Kuba Seguin. The family continued to grow with the arrival of Marc-André Paradis on percussion, Maxime Audet-Halde on guitar, François Therrien on keyboards and Sébastien Francisque on vocals. Papagroove was born, eager and impatient for its sound to be heard.

We're not blind (Disques Anubis/Outside Music), the first album produced by the group, was officially launched in July 2008 in the frame of the Montreal International Jazz Festival, where Papagroove made its mark with a memorable performance the year before. Also collaborating on this first album were the sound engineer David Sturton (Branvan 3000, Jean Leloup) as well as Cameroonian David Ngohdefikko, member of Fela Kuti's legendary group, Egypt 80.

• Didace Grondin (Guitar)
• Maxime Audet-Halde (Guitar)
• Gabriel Lajoie (Bass)
• Sylvain Plante (Drums)
• Sebastien Francisque (Lead vocal, lyrics)
• Jean-Francois Ouellet (Baritone Sax)
• Matthieu Van Vliet: (Trombone)
• Mario Allard (Alto Saxophone)
• Phillippe Dalpé: (Saxophone)
• Jacques Séguin: (Trumpet)
• François Thérrien: (Keyboards)
• Martin Lizotte: (Keyboards)
• Marc-André Paradis: (Percussion)

We're not blind (Disques Anubis/Outside Music)

Maria Masino
(514) 804-3583
maria.masino.producciones@gmail.com

Gabriel Lajoie
(514) 297-6742
zone4@videotron.ca