Frédéric Gassita

Frédéric Gassita is a Gabonese pianist, composer and record producer best known for his musical work combining jazz, classical music and African music.[1][2] He was the third African student admitted to Berklee College of Music and the first Gabonese. Gassita is a founding member and president of the African Music Institute in Libreville.[3]

Frédéric Gassita
Born
Gabon
NationalityGabonese
EducationConservatoire de Châteauroux
Alma materBerklee College of Music
Occupation
  • Pianist
  • composer
  • record producer
  • television producer
Musical career
GenresJazz
Instruments
  • Piano
Labels
  • Afro Jazz Productions
  • Atlantide Music
Websiteafjproductions2020.com

Early life and education

Gassita attented the Conservatoire de Châteauroux in France in the early 1980s, where he received classical training. Upon returning to Gabon in 1984, he formed a band and started playing at a club in Libreville. An audience member he met during a performance told him about Berklee College of Music. In 1987, two years into medicine school, he moved to Boston and joined Berklee in the fall of 1988.[3] Gassita studied music production, sound engineering and jazz performance.[1]

During his time at Berklee, Gassita developed an interest in orchestration. He attended the rehearsals of the Berklee Contemporary Symphony Orchestra and studied literature on orchestration.[1]

Career

Orchestral work

Gassita has recorded six orchestral music albums. The double album “Frédéric Gassita With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra” includes pieces from his opuses released between 2004 and 2008, which were rearranged for the new release.[4] “Symphonic Visions From Gabon”, featuring the London Symphony Orchestra, also a double album, incorporates African music influences.

Production of the albums began in Gassita's studio in Libreville, alongside French conductor Paul Rouger and Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of Gabon and also a composer. Gassita met Ondimba during a party where they played piano four hands.[1] The albums were recorded at Air Studios' Lyndhurst Hall in London. The sessions were engineered by Pascal Bomy. Guest artists included Bireli Lagrène, André Ceccarelli, Baptiste Herbin and Sylvain Luc.[1]

In 2020, Gassita the double album "New Symphonic Visions from Gabon with the London Symphony Orchestra Bantu Jazz Vol. 1 & 2".

African Music Institute

According to Berklee College of Music, their relationship with Gabon began with Gassita, whose goal was to provide similar music education in Africa.

In October 2015, Roger H. Brown, president of Berklee College of Music and Ali Bongo Ondimba, president of Gabon, signed a memorandum of understanding to create a pan-African music school in Libreville. Gassita was among the signees and is currently the president of the African Music Institute Foundation.[5][6]

Television

Gassita directed the television series "The Mytho", which was produced by his company, Afro Jazz Productions. The series consists of 20 episodes and aired during the second half of 2015.[7]

Sports

Gassita founded and is the president of the first division football team FC Sapins, later renamed to Akanda FC.[7][8] Gassita also played as a striker for the team and was the Gabonese league's top scorer.[1] Akanda FC is considered the strongest football club in Gabon. The team also has the highest budget.[9]

Discography
  • Forever Yours (2004)
  • Following My Star (2008)
  • Frédéric Gassita with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Vol. 1 (2013)
  • Frédéric Gassita with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Vol. 2 (2013)
  • Symphonic Visions from Gabon (2013)
  • Symphonic Visions from Gabon with the London Symphony Orchestra (2013)
  • My Experience (2015)
  • New Symphonic Visions from Gabon with the London Symphony Orchestra Bantu Jazz Vol. 1 & 2 (2020)

[10]

References
  1. "Atlantide Music". www.atlantidemusic.biz. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  2. Radio, Jazz (2013-07-18). "Jazz Radio". Jazz Radio (in French). Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  3. "F. Gassita, President of the foundation African Music Institute". AMI. 2016-11-20. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  4. "Fredéric Gassita". Music In Africa (in French). 2015-12-08. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  5. Boston, 1140 Boylston Street; Maps, MA 02215 United States See map: Google. "Plans Announced to Open a Pan-African Music School in 2017 | Berklee College of Music". www.berklee.edu. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  6. "Gabon : l'African Music Institute ouvrira ses portes à Libreville en octobre – Jeune Afrique". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). 2018-07-04. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  7. "" Le Mytho " : Frédéric Gassita et les menteurs en série au Gabon – Jeune Afrique". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). 2015-03-04. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  8. "Football : le FC Sapins pourrait se muer en FC Akanda - Gabonreview.com". 2015-01-18. Archived from the original on 2015-01-18. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  9. "Séraphin Moundounga et l'urgence d'un football professionnel au Gabon". Gabonreview.com | Actualité du Gabon | (in French). 2012-05-22. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  10. "Frédéric Gassita on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.