Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 / Tiken Jah Fakoly / Nana Benz du Togo / BCUC / NickyB / Ninanda

This band, who won over Rezzo Jazz 2024 edition’s jury in Vienne, was created by two young instrumentalists whose names come up more and more in the scenic and phonographic news. The pianist of Israeli origin Nina Gat distinguished herself by brilliantly playing classics and getting involved in unclassifiable projects, as the drummer Elie Martin-Charrière’s one. Ananda Brandaõ, a rising star of the drums but also a singer and inspired composer, likes both human and musical encounters (she was among other things part of the Jazz à Vienne’s French-Brazilian creation in 2023). At the unexplored crossroads of the most modern instrumental jazz and ethereal vocal arrangements with a dreamy folk touch, Ninanda found an unequalled sound, evoking a new world of fusions with a magical force.

Line-up :

• Nina Gat (p, v)
• Ananda Brandão (dms, v)
• Maxime Boyer (g)
• Mathieu Scala (cb)

This band has the strength to combine frenzied rhythmics, electronic keyboards and politically committed songs resembling a voodoo ceremony. Its name refers directly to those Togolese women who achieved a rapid economic and social success from the 60s, thanks to the textile trade. This quartet replace the external signs of success often used to describe those women called “Benz” with feminist and environmentalist lyrics accompanied by minimalist, danceable and catchy music with powers as hypnotic as they are unifying. Their “digital voodoo” project and its unique sound will definitely be a memorable moment of the All Night.

“It is not normal that Africa is one of the richest continents and that its inhabitants are among the poorest ones.” For more than 30 years, the African reggae legend, Tiken Jah Fakoly from Ivory Coast, has been spreading politically committed music aimed at “raising awareness”. For his new project Acoustic, he moves away from reggae arrangements to revisit his emblematic songs (“Tonton d’America”, “Plus rien ne m’étonne” or “Ouvrez les frontières”) with traditional Mandinka instruments, such as sokus, koras, balafons, etc. This is the first time that this charismatic singer is coming to Jazz à Vienne and it is a real event: this evening will be on the theme of generosity and sharing. It is time to review his lyrics before we sing them all together. “Il faut partager le monde…”

Line-up :

• Tiken Jah Fakoly (v lead)
• Bendoume Engone Akoughey (v)
• Négblé Julie Remy (v)
• Valery Assouan (b)
• Colin Laroche De Feline (g)
• Andra Kouyate (N’goni)
• Adama Dembele (balafon, kora)
• Jean-Luc Rémy (synth)
• Ludovic Ahua N Holle (dms)

At only 14, Seun Kuti became the leader of Egypt 80, the band of his father Fela, who was the afrobeat inventor, a musical and political figure but also a true legend in Niger and beyond African borders. As his father wanted, the youngest of his sons took over the band, singing and playing the saxophone. He has been carrying on the music and a commitment, that he gradually shaped in his image: “When I started playing music at 8 with my father, he showed me how to be myself making my own way in the industry. My music looks like me. I hope it can help people to be relieved from what they live today and to fight consumerist pressure.” Distinguished by a continuous change, Egypt 80’s music, driven by Seun Kuti, is both activist and irresistibly danceable.

Line-up :

• Seun Kuti (v, s, k)
• Yetunde Anikulapo-Kuti (dance, v)
• Cynthia 'Princess' Balogun (dance, v)
• Valentin Pellet (t)
• Fabrice Fila (ts)
• Kunle Justice (b)
• Anis Benhallak (g)
• Nicolas  Sakelario (v)
• Mario Orsinet (dms)

For more than twenty years, the seven musicians of the South African collective BCUC (Buntu Continua Uhuru Consciousness) have been performing at the greatest festivals in the world with their “Africangugu”, an explosive cocktail of hypnotic percussions, powerful singing in Zulu and Sotho and an electric bass which captivates us in unison. “Music for the people by the people with the people” is their effective, politically committed and inviting motto. With traditional South African music, warm soul (the voice of the incredible singer Kgomotso Mokone), the freedom of rock and the vibrancy of hip-hop, BCUC carries off everything in their path with an incredible energy creating a collective trance. Each of their scenic performances is an experience as overwhelming as unforgettable. So, you better catch the wave!

Line-up :

• Jovi Zithulele Zabani (v)
• Hloni Letlhogonolo Maphunye (v)
• Kgomotso Kgomotso Mokone (v)
• Luja Thabo Saul Ngoepe(dms)
• Skhumbuzo Ephraim Mahlangu (dms)
• Cheex Daniel Mangel (cng)
• Mosebetsi Mosebetsi Ntsimande (g)

Turntable expert, host of the “The World Show” on Johannesburg radio Kaya959 for decades, educator, instructor and open-minded musical activist without borders, Nicky Blumenfeld, aka NickyB, works with different musical genres: funk, electro, house, African music and more generally “all styles which deserved to be listened to”. This is a DJ like no other: she has a gift for sublimating all genres and making them accessible to all audiences. Her sets are a unique experience, a single music trip to unexplored sound lands, where spirit and body are used with equal passion. There is no doubt that her performance during the All Night will be one of the biggest moments of the Jazz à Vienne 2025 edition.