Aron & The Jeri Jeri Band

ARON & THE JERI JERI BAND (NEW ZEALAND / SENEGAL)

Aron & The Jeri Jeri Band (A&TJJB) are a melting pot of cross cultural sounds, at the core of which is Mbalax, with a seasoning of Afrobeat, Afrofunk and Jazz. The brainchild of pianist, composer and producer Aron Ottignon and sabar percussionist Bakane Seck, their debut album to be released via Urban Trout / Modulor is music for the soul and the dancefloor, blending African rhythms with jazz and electronic influences to create a sound that is both modern and timeless.

Aron Ottignon is no stranger to the music scene, the New Zealand born pianist caught the attention of Blue Note and Universal Music record labels and in early 2000’s he released a string of jazz albums to critical acclaim, as a composer he collaborated with Stromae on the global chart topper “Papaoutai”, he has toured the world with Woodkid and collaborated with many other musicians including Electric Wire Hustle, Louane, Broken Back, Empire Of the Sun, Myele Manzanza.

Senegalese Griot, Bakane Seck has been playing music since before he was born, his mastery of the Sabar (percussion instrument) has seen him tour the world with icons of the African music industry Youssou N’Dour and Baaba Maal. He is the founder and frontman of the Jeri Jeri Band.

Seck met Ottignon in Berlin in 2019, introduced by a traditional sabar dance teacher. Ottignon began working on two demos for an international album, Mama Djuma and Teddoungal, fusing traditional Senegalese sounds with modern production techniques. They both knew they had found the perfect match and that this was just the beginning of their musical journey together.

Ottignon draws inspiration in the music of legendary jazz pianists like Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, Bill Evans, and Keith Jarrod. His music is deeply rooted in rhythm and groove. The meeting with Bakane has led the group to create an album which is a contemporary fusion of jazz, electronic, and West African music that transcends traditional genre labels, explores new sounds and pushes the boundaries of what's possible in music.

The messages behind the music are ones of optimism, hope for future generations, progress, and positive change. “Through this music, I hope to promote a better understanding of Senegalese culture and the important role that music plays as a bridge between different cultures and traditions. It's important to recognize that what is considered "normal" in one culture is not necessarily better or worse than what is considered normal in another. Education and understanding are key to appreciating and celebrating our differences. We are all unique, and this music serves as a vessel to promote acceptance and celebration of our differences.” - Ottignon

With just a few shows in Dakar under their belt Aron and the Jeri Jeri Band, the group has become known for their electrifying performances.

Press / Media:

"Dama Bëgga Ñibi is a vibrant representation of the globalisation of music. The preservation of historical traditions and the introduction of the contemporary, uniting generations old and new, demonstrating we have more in common than we think. Picture a music timeline from near the very beginnings to the present day. Dama Bëgga Ñibi captures this spectacularly” - The Quietus

“Ottignon, a New Zealand-born producer and jazz pianist, brings a shape-shifting electronic haze to the album, while The Jeri Jeri Band, led by veteran sabar drummer Bakane Seck, brings firecracker percussion. A range of guest singers recreate the heyday of mbalax, the sour-toned Senegalese dance music that emerged in the 1970s. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ” - Financial Times

“Cross-culture groove alchemists hook up with Senegalese singing star Baaba Maal for their new genre-bending EP, Teddoungal. The Senegalese singer’s enlivening invocations grace the release’s bubbling, ebullient title-track, the lead cut on a set of five fizzers blending traditional Senegalese musical forms with jazz and pulsating electronics, alongside vibrant club-friendly remixes courtesy of Coco Em, Ibaaku and Jose Marquetkz.” - Songlines

“Homesick, electronically adventurous Senegalese Blues, featuring Baba Maal” - Uncut Magazine

“A rich tapestry of sound and song…each track remains enviably colourful and refreshingly life affirming” - DJ Magazine.

Listen:

https://modulor.lnk.to/damabegganibi

https://modulor.lnk.to/teddoungal

https://modulor.lnk.to/mamadjuma

https://aronandthejerijeriband.bandcamp.com/music

Follow Online:

https://www.instagram.com/aronandthejerijeriband/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088268792417

https://www.tiktok.com/@aatjjb

https://bio.to/aronandthejerijeriband