KUTU
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Since 2020, Kutu, the collective dreamed up by Théo Ceccaldi, has been churning out a series of high-spirited concerts, immersing curious audiences in a free, collective experience where improvisation, jazz and electro blend perfectly with Kutu’s cornerstone, the oral tradition of Ethiopia’s Azmari. Often compared to bards or griots, the Azmari is an artist who masters improvisation and satirical stories, rooted in the present rather than the past, recited, slammed or sung in public places, usually in bars or on the streets.
A quick look back! Kutu was born in the aftermath of the Covid crisis, when Théo Ceccaldi flew to Ethiopia, to the heart of the Addis Ababa nightlife, where he had a decisive encounter with Hewan Gebrewold, singer-songwriter of the 2010s Jano Band, an Ethiopian jazz and progressive rock group.
Kutu was born in the fervour of underground nights, blending Hewan’s powerful, hypnotic voice with Théo Ceccaldi’s artistic curiosities and hypnotic trances of jazz and electro. They will soon be joined by drummer Cyril Atef (Vincent Ségal’s brother on the road with Bumcello), Akemi Fujimori on keyboards (often seen with the Naive New Beaters, Thomas de Pourquery, Prudence, etc.) and Théo’s brother Valentin Ceccaldi, who has swapped his cello for the bass for the occasion.
After their debut album, Guramayle, released in 2022, Kutu will embark on a tour of over a hundred concerts, driven by a feverish energy where improvisation and trance are at the heart of their stage performance. Kutu’énergie will immerse audiences in a unique musical experience, celebrating the collective, sharing and intercultural encounters.
Kutu, who have just signed to the prestigious Naïve label, have announced the release of their second album, Marda, originally named after a traditional Ethiopian necklace, in early 2025.
Théo Ceccaldi – ‘Marda represents the transmission of a cultural heritage for future generations. The image of this necklace, which is given to young girls as they make the transition from childhood to adulthood, expresses for us the second age of KUTU! A precious necklace that we cherish and keep for the rest of our lives, as a form of protection’.
With its ten new compositions in a more ‘pop’ format, Marda breaks away from their first opus, which was based on a very ‘live’ production, for a goldsmith’s work in sometimes improvised studios, as during their last tour in East Africa.