Chyco Siméon - Finally (2004)

French bassist and composer Chyco Siméon blends his contemporary jazz and fusion with elements drawn from his Caribbean roots. He made his solo debut with 2004's Finally, which built upon his previous decades of experience as a session and live performer. Siméon has showcased his vibrant mix of jazz, funk, and R&B on albums like 2010's Ozanam (a tribute to his youth growing up in Martinique) and 2013's 99%.

Born in 1966 to a family of Caribbean heritage, Siméon was raised in Montrouge, a suburb of Paris. From a young age, his father instilled in him a love of jazz, classical, salsa, and the vibrant musical traditions of the Caribbean. Around 1982, he moved with his mother to Martinique. It was there he began exploring a variety of instruments before landing on the bass. He developed quickly, drawing inspiration from the work of Marcus Miller. While still in high school, he began performing as a member of the group Sunshine. This eventually led to his joining another group, Crystal, with whom he recorded and garnered radio airplay. More work followed, including sessions with Simon Jurad, Gertrude Seinin, Fal Frett, and others.

In 1990, Siméon returned to Paris, where he furthered his studio and composition work, collaborating with artists like Tatiana Miath, Zouk, Tony Chasseur, and Pipo Gertrude, among others. There were also productions with Serge Ponsar, Hasheem and Omar Chakil, and more. As a solo artist, Siméon made his debut in 2004 with Finally, mixing jazz, hip-hop, and Caribbean sounds. Another cross-pollinated effort, Roots Mwen, arrived two years later. In 2010, he released Ozanam, a tribute to the suburb of Schoelcher in Martinique where he spent much of his youth. A fourth album, 99%, appeared in 2013. © Matt Collar