Album Notes

"Think of all the things you may have liked about modern African music over the last thirty years, combine that with some of your favorite American r&b and jazz concerts over the last forty years, and you start to get a picture of the music of Francis Mbappe." (World Discoveries, july 2005).

A native of Cameroon, Mbappe is an unstoppable natural musician and gifted producer who past collaborations include musical greats such as Herbie Hancock, Manu Dibango, Fela Kuti, Ashanti Tokoto, Peter Gabriel, Youssou Ndour, Salif Keita, and King Sunny Ade.

By the age of nineteen Mbappe was bass player and musical director for Manu Dibango's band, with whom he toured extensively from 1982 until 1990 while starting his work as a producer, including "Guido Vittale" by Koning Plank (featuring Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart), or the music arrangements for the film "Young Maestro" directed by Franco Zeffirelli.

Upon arrival to New York City in the 1990's, Francis started the band "FM TRIBE" with some of the most exciting, innovative players around. With funk in the conception, rock in the attitude, swing in the movement and soul in the spirit, Francis Mbappe created a new kind of music that contains many of the best elements of both traditions (jazz, funk, rhythm-n-blues with African music) succeeding in pulling all these types of influences together and to actually create something new.

Francis has livened up all of the New York hot spots for many years as well as continued with his work as a producer under his music production company "FM GROOVE INC.", bringing people of different races, educations and backgrounds together in an attempt to unify people through acts of artistic expression (and put out some damn good music in the process!).

Francis has recently completed the re-mixing and re-mastering of the album he made with FM Tribe. This band is a fusion of people from all over the world, of different backgrounds, education, races; all bound together by a common love, understanding and passion for music and expression. Through this album, Francis is sharing it with you.

Francis Mbappe is an artist unparalleled. We urge you to check him out online at www.fmgroove.com