Tony Dudu & The Gumbe Jazz Live - 29.03.15

Open Gate Presents....Tony Dudu & The Gumbe Jazz

Born in Guinea-Bissau, Tony Dudu has been an important musical figure in the emerging palop sound over the last 2 decades.

With his band the Gumbe Jazz, a fine blend of talented musicians, he’s going to get you up on your dancing feet!

Tony Dudu was born in Bambadinca, Guinea Bissau, West-Africa.  When he was nine years old he built his first guitar from an olive oil tin, a broom handle and two nylon strings.

At the age of twelve he joined “Os Lacaraes”, Guinea-Bissau’s first infants musical band. Two years later he was invited to play with the famous group “Africa Livre”, where he met Manecas Costa and “Justino Delgado”. It was during this time that Tony began to receive recognition  for his virtuosic and melodic guitar playing.

In 1988, in search of new horizons, Tony moved to Portugal where he was asked to join the group “Os Issabary” from Guinea Bissau. He also made a name for himself as an in demand session In addition to appearing on over 100 records with different artists from diverse parts of Africa like: guinea Bissau, Angola, Mozambique, Sao Tome, Cape Verde and Brazil.

He was lead guitar for Valdemar Bastos, Manecas Costa,  Justino  Delgado, Eneida Marta, Tabanka Djazz, Don Kikas, Bonga, Juca and many more. Tony Dudu took part in many festivals around the globe, like: Detroit festival, U.C.L.  in L.A., New York central Park, Edmonton folk festival, Canada, Womad festival, Germany, Baia das gatas festival, Cape Verde, Baia and Sao Paulo, Brazil, Rose Ball, Monaco, Masa festival, Ivory Coast and the C.P.L.P. in Guinea Bissau.

In 2007 he moves to the Uk with the hope to make new connections and he joins the Matimba’s band, from Zimbabwe, Moses Conde from Guinea Conakry, Africa Bauantu, Ghana, kamba Semba, Angola, sax Player, Afro-jazz Zimbabwe, Paul Lunga. It was in 2009 that Tony form a brand new project named “Gumbe Jazz”. A fusion between African rhythms, of West-Africa blend it with latin grooves, south African rhythms and Jazz.

+ Support:

Jally Kebba Susso (griot music, kora virtuoso, solo – Gambia)