Ba Yo Yusan

• 1 Yaly 04:12
• 2 Yessay (Instrumental) 06:05
• 3 Fanmi (interlude) (Instrumental) 01:27
• 4 Esoka Longuē 06:27
• 5 Mawonnen san viza 03:34
• 6 Little Bird 02:58
• 7 Paris (interlude) (Instrumental) 00:57
• 8 Never Shade away 04:54
• 9 Seriti (interlude) 01:29
• 10 Manoah 04:40
• 11 Konsiens 04:35
• 12 Vocal Mathieu (interlude) (Instrumental) 00:39
• 13 Los Santos 03:37
• 14 L8ve circle 05:09
• Total Runtime 50:43

Info for Ba Yo

Yusan arrives. In force. After Chiraj, a much-appreciated debut EP released in 2021, the new-generation collective formed by Ralph Lavital, Romain Cuoq, Kevin Jubert, Gwen Ladeux and Mathieu Edouard presents Ba Yo, an abundant first album where their heritage (Yusan!) blends with each other and with current developments on the music scene. So don't be surprised if you don't find what you're looking for - or rather, if you do, stay surprised and open-minded, because surprise is always just around the corner. These five have assimilated Sixun, and from the outset offer a jazz fusion that comes straight out of it (Yali, Yessay), then, with the participation of Jocelyne Béroard, a successful nod to both Marius Cultier and Mario Canonge's acoustic zouk. With Esoka Longué and Ann Shirley's vocals, it's Ultramarine we're looking to, and the Afro-Caribbean comes back with Los Santos, all percussion. The very modern arrangements of Never Shade Away, Love Circle and Konsiens' (with Jean-Michel Rotin), with even a touch of electro, clubbing style, let Ralph - on guitar - and Romain - on saxophone - express their fulgurances and leave the listener little rest (but do we want to?). Ba Yo is also punctuated by some beautiful oases of calm (Little Bird, Manoah...) offering the voices of Célia Kameni and Ann Shirley, as well as Olivier Ker Ourio's harmonica, the space to take us by the hand and travel. So let Yusan take you on a journey, and meet him at the New Mor.

Mickaëlle Leslie, vocals
Romain Cuoq, saxophone
Ralph Lavital, guitar
Kevin Jubert, keyboards
Gwen Ladeux, bass
Mathieu Edward, drums

Yusan
The name ‘Yusan’ came about by chance, a contribution by a friend of the band. It is the Korean word for “legacy” and perfectly sums up the way they see their own music. From these “strong individual identities and a common legacy”, ‘Yusan’ makes its jazz travel from Caribbean music to African rhythms, through songs, gospels sounds and urban influences. This mix is the sextet’s signature, where everyone naturally finds his own place.

is an illustration of the ferment that reigns in the Parisian music scene. As a cultural and artistic crossroads, the capital brings together musicians from very different backgrounds, pooling their cultures to create a new sound.

The group was born in 2017 from the meeting of 5 musicians from diverse backgrounds: Romain Cuoq - saxophonist sideman and leader renowned on the French jazz scene, Kevin Jubert - pianist with a background in gospel music, who for years was musical director of the legendary group Gospel pour 100 voix, Gwen Ladeux - one of the most sought-after bassists on the French hip hop and soul scene, Mathieu Edouard - the versatile drummer of the moment, who plays with the big names in urban pop and is equally at home with Chassol and Clara Lucciani, and Ralph Lavital - a talented guitarist with a background in jazz as sideman and leader, as well as in pop and Caribbean music. These 5 musicians have been playing together for nearly 10 years, crossing paths through a wide range of projects, from jazz to pop, via urban and Caribbean music.

Yusan, which means "heritage" in Korean, offers a fascinating insight into cultural plurality through a blend of Caribbean, Afrobeat, jazz, soul and gospel music. His music transcends borders and brings musical worlds together to create a breathtaking sonic experience.

After a first EP released in 2021, which saw the track Chiraj covered by musicians from all over the world, Yusan unveils his first opus 'Ba Yo'. This Creole expression, which means both "for them" and "give to them", perfectly illustrates the generosity of the project.

The influences and itineraries of each musician are reflected in their collective compositions, where jazz blends with a variety of aesthetics. Equally at home on ballads or up tempo tracks, the group impresses with its precision and its cohesion on stage. Eloquent in its arrangements and improvisations, Yusan also gives pride of place to the voice, in songs in French, Creole and English.

This album contains no booklet.