Solo RAZAF "Solo Razafindrakoto, 41, was born in Montpellier of Madagascan parents but left for the Big Island when he was six months old. Although he visited France regularly, he grew up in Madagsacar, in the village of his grandparents, in contact with the traditional music of the Highlands. He began playing the guitar at 12, and turned professional at 17, playing with rock groups which were already including local instruments...

"Solo [pronounce 'Sool'] was 22 when, in 1978, he chose to settle in France where he has since had a double career as a musician and producer. He accompanied first Graeme Allwright until 1983, then Dizzy Gillespie and Miriam Makeba (he is still her official guitarist today), created the group Namana (short-lived, but which produced an album), and handled the arrangements and artistic direction of the most recent albums of the author of "Jour de clarté." All this while travelling the world with his own compositions (in Boston, in the US, he was called the "revelation" of the L'Air du temps festival in 1995 and 1996).

"His only personal album, Guitare à balanciers (1993)- "a concept which pulls together the musics of Madagascar, folk blues and French chanson"-is no longer available, but, he explains, "we are planning to bring it out again with the second which I am preparing at the moment. A continuation, if you will, with compositions based on the salegy rhythm."

"As a producer (he created the Musikéla label with Claire Bataille), Solo Razaf is responsible for a number of beautiful albums. Finest among them, the superb compilation, Fruits du voyage, a double CD* assembling a selection of 15 songs recorded in the early sixties for Madagascan National Radio and 19 contemporary pieces recorded in 1994 and 1995 in Tananarivo, Antsirabe, Paris and Quebec: titles with extremely varied atmospheres, in which Solo shows the full extent of his talent as a guitarist and composer, along with numerous other musicians including Erick Manana and Ricky. To this stellar accomplishment we must add notably Erick Manana's CD (Bonjour Madame la guitare, 1993**), a homage to Razilina (a great Madagascan poet and singer-songwriter who died in the sixties). Solo Razaf also plans to produce an album of the old flutist and singer-songwriter, Rakoto Frah: "a giant, whom I compare to Gillespie." He comments: "This work is entirely connected to my personal career. It is a question of responsibility and also a piece of luck for me. If I want to share what I have learned and my experience with other Madagascan artists, it's perfect. To keep in touch, I spend a month or two there every two years." [Jean Théfaine, in Chorus, été 1997]

Solo RAZAF wowed the audiences at Scullers Jazz Club and Club Passim in both 1995 and 1996. His superb guitar work also garnered rave reviews the last time he accompanied Miriam Makeba at Symphony Hall. Don't miss him this time around, at Scullers and at Les Zygomates.

* Awarded a "Choc" by Le Monde de la Musique. ** Awarded three stars by Le Monde de la Musique.