Yves Francois & Rocambu Jazz
ABOUT
2022 Esteemed Artist Awardee by the Individual Artists Program grant from the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events #DCASEgrants.
Yves Francois is a jazz trumpeter and an esteemed artist award recipient from DCASE. His Rocambu Jazz project draws on influences of his family's connection to Tunisia and North Africa and also explores world jazz genres including retro Afro-Caribbean grooves, congas, high life, rumbas, soukous, and New Orleans jazz. Yves honed his skills on the south side of Chicago, by playing alongside jazz legends such as Paul Bascomb, Odie Payne Jr, Eddie Johnson, and his mentor, Franz Jackson. He is a Delmark Records recording artist and will be releasing a new album this year through Intercultural Music Production with funding from DCASE.
Yves Francois was first inspired to be a trumpeter after hearing Louis Armstrong on TV. He honed his craft on Chicago's South Side, and was mentored by jazz legends including Franz Jackson and Paul Bascomb. In 2006, Delmark Records released Blues For Hawk which included his early recordings with Franz, Eddie Johnson and blues drummer Odie Payne. Yves currently gigs around Chicago, including at the Green Mill with Alfonso Ponticelli.
Since 2002 Yves Francois Rocambu Jazz has been entertaining audiences with its intoxicating mix of jazz horns and Afro-Caribbean rhythms. The new CD Viva Rocambu! will be released March 2023.
EVENTS
The CD ¡VIVA ROCAMBU! is now available to buy and is made possible by a grant from DCASE - Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.
Support this ensemble and get your copy of ¡VIVA ROCAMBU! on Bandcamp
https://yvesfrancoisrocambujazz.bandcamp.com/album/viva-rocambu
“Yves combines the energy and exuberance of American Jazz with the effervescent dance music of French Africa”
Yves Francois’ ROCAMBU JAZZ is a dance band that formed in 2002, and performs Retro African, Latin and Caribbean grooves.
They explore the rhythms of the African Diaspora such as:
biguine
calypso
conga
rumba
highlife
samba
son
New Orleans
West African