ZAN STEWART (LOS ANGELES TIMES)
Armand Sabal-Lecco is a bassist and musical composer from Cameroon, who, in his 28 years, has performed and recorded with Paul Simon, the Brecker Brothers, Herbie Hancock, Stanley Clarke, Steve Stevens, Stewart Copeland, and many others, including the celebrity likes of Vanessa Williams.
Such a life was never imagined for Armand. His father, Felix Sabal-Lecco, was once vice president of the Republic of Cameroon, the small country on Africa’s West Coast., and later its ambassador to France and Italy. He hoped his son would follow in his footsteps. “I was supposed to be a lawyer, a politician,” Sabal-Lecco said.
But like his brothers Felix, a drummer, and Roger, a bassist, Sabal-Lecco was driven toward music and, at 13, switched from drums to bass. He also acted the madcap on skateboards all around Yaounde, the nation’s capital.
But this was not the proper attitude for a diplomat’s son, and he was sent to live with a sister in Paris when he was 15.
“My father felt that I had to leave, go where nobody would know me,” he said with a laugh.
Since then, Sabal-Lecco has thrived, becoming one of the music world’s most in-demand bassists. He plays Saturday at La Ve Lee in Studio City.
Many people wrongly assume, Sabal-Lecco says, that he plays only African music.
“I’m a guy who lives in L.A., who lived in France, who lived in Rome, who’s from Cameroon, and who grew up playing funk, rock and straight-ahead jazz,” said Sabal-Lecco, a tall, striking-looking man with a quick, winning smile.
“I started playing African music only after I moved to Paris. In Africa then, it wasn’t hip to play African music. So my music is a mix of all those different things.”
There’s definitely a jazz core to the music that Sabal-Lecco plays at La Ve Lee, where his band includes such upper-echelon L.A. jazz journeymen as David Goldblatt on keyboards and Steve Tavaglione on saxes and electronic wind instrument.
The tunes, open and loose, are melodically diverse, variously underpinned by popping back beats and more fluid, African-based rhythmic patterns that allow plenty of room for soloing.
Sabal-Lecco, who avoids affixing labels to his music, calls this stuff “Leccology.”
“Our band likes to play with the songs like Miles used to do at the beginning of the ‘80s,” he said. “We have the frame, the shape of the song, but we play with it. It seems like we’re as relaxed as in a jam, but everything is pretty set and written.”
That relaxed attitude typifies Sabal-Lecco’s approach to music in general. “I’m a formally self-taught musician, so how I learned music was from what I was feeling, not from what I was reading,” he said. And those feelings determine the outcome of his performances, he added.
“How I play depends on who’s playing with me, who’s listening, the reaction of the crowd. And I want my band to play that way. Some musicians are so involved in how a tune has been written that there’s no communication within the band on stage, and with the audience. I need musicians who can communicate.”
Sabal-Lecco is succeeding, and his band sounds great, says Olivier Vabois, who, with owner Eddie Arbi, books La Ve Lee. “Armand’s music is challenging, sometimes really difficult music, but it feels good,” Vabois said.
In Paris in the late ‘80s, Sabal-Lecco had just finished a two-week tour with Xamahal, a band he and his brother Felix led, when destiny, in the form of Paul Simon, called–many, many times.
“I knew of Paul, but I’d never met him and, when I came home, he’d left a lot of messages” — close to 100, the bassist said.
Sabal-Lecco recalled thinking, “What is this? Maybe it was a friend of mine playing a joke.”
So when Simon’s manager called, asking him to come to New York for a session, he did what any of us would do with what we think is a crank caller–he hung up.
Eventually, Sabal-Lecco called the New York number Simon had left on a message, reached the manager he had hung up on, apologized, and was hired to perform a number of tunes on Simon’s then-upcoming, now classic album “Rhythm of the Saints.”
Since then, Sabal-Lecco’s star has been glowing. He’s toured with Simon and Art Garfunkel. He’s had his tunes recorded by fellow bassists Clarke and Patitucci, with whom he wrote “Another World,” which was nominated for a 1993 contemporary jazz instrumental performance Grammy. All this, and he’s just 28.
“For me, it’s been a blessing to move here and make it,” he said. “For a lot of people, it’s very, very hard. I’m very fortunate.”
WHERE AND WHEN
Who: Armand Sabal-Lecco.
Location: La Ve Lee, 12514 Ventura Blvd., Studio City.
Hours: 9:30 and 11:30 p.m. Saturdays.
Price: $10 cover, two-drink minimum.
Call: (818) 980-8158.
August 15, 1991 — Armand was just 22 years old, standing on a large stage in New York City’s Central Park, set for Paul Simon. Armand was the bass player in Simon’s Rhythm of the Saints band, and they were in the middle of the “Born at the Right Time” World Tour, supporting the new album.
The half-million gathered was one of the largest audiences ever assembled, and the concert was being broadcast live on HBO, recorded, and released the next year as Paul Simon’s Concert In The Park (CD/DVD).
Armand was a long way from his home in Cameroon, but despite his youth, he was already a seasoned world traveler, and he was well into his professional life as a musician, disciplined and spirited in spreading his father’s optimistic message of hope and understanding.
[Ancient, African, Rhythmists? Music. Philosophy. Nomadic Troubadours. Not for money, but for its ability to heal?]
Armand’s father sent Felix and him to Paris to further their education, and for them, to further their musical pursuits. Still in their teens, the talented brothers rose fast in the European and French music scenes, and it was there and then when they were recognized by Manu Dibango, a founding father of the uniquely Cameroonian musical style. Years earlier, Dibango had moved to Paris, from where he had taken the global stage. Impressed, and happy to see the young Cameroonian brothers, Dibango knew he wanted Armand and Felix to join his band, which they gladly did when asked?
Not yet 20 years old, Armand had now embarked on his voyage, and because Dibango was such a generous man and band leader, it wasn’t long before Armand found a commanding musical voice of his own.
Since its dramatic beginning, Armand’s journey has moved forward without pause, and has been followed closely by some of the most influential voices in the music industry. Interest and demand for Armand’s talent, enthusiasm, and educational ethic was keen. Like Dibango and Simon, the well known and accomplished musicians who asked Armand to join them, were those who appreciated, and knew they could help Armand realize his mission, but who also knew that even though their careers were already so well established, Armand could help them stay fresh, interested, and still open to musical exploration and discovery.
Consider the number, quality, and eclecticism of the musicians who’ve worked with Armand, and you’ll better understand how successful he’s been spreading the word of his father:
Positive Army — description
Stanley Clarke — “Fulani” (Return To Forever)
Mass Mental — w/ Robert Trujillo (Metalica)
Since he was a boy, growing up in Ebolowa, Cameroon, bassist and composer Armand Sabal-Lecco has been preparing for the spiritual journey on which he has embarked.
First, his father Felix Sabal-Lecco (an important member of Cameroon’s first democratic government), and his older brother Roger, instilled the fundamental values Armand would always live by. (Statue Quote)
Armand veered away from his father’s desire for his young son to pursue a career in government and law, choosing, instead, to follow his brother, a bassist, on his musical quest.
Despite disappointing his father, Armand says the teachings of his father have always been his guiding light.
Armand’s mission is spiritual … to spread a message of social peace and justice. Because of his natural talent, Armand music was the best launguage for him to speak.
Be a Voice, Not an Echo.”
— Armand Sabal-Lecco
August 15, 1991 — Armand was just 22 years old, standing on a large stage in New York City’s Central Park, set for Paul Simon. Armand was the bass player in Simon’s Rhythm of the Saints band, and they were in the middle of the “Born at the Right Time” World Tour, supporting the new album.
The half-million gathered was one of the largest audiences ever assembled, and the concert was being broadcast live on HBO, recorded, and released the next year as Paul Simon’s Concert In The Park (CD/DVD).
Armand was a long way from his home in Cameroon, but despite his youth, he was already a seasoned world traveler, and he was well into his professional life as a musician, disciplined and spirited in spreading his father’s optimistic message of hope and understanding.
[Ancient, African, Rhythmists? Music. Philosophy. Nomadic Troubadours. Not for money, but for its ability to heal?]
Armand’s father sent Felix and him to Paris to further their education, and for them, to further their musical pursuits. Still in their teens, the talented brothers rose fast in the European and French music scenes, and it was there and then when they were recognized by Manu Dibango, a founding father of the uniquely Cameroonian musical style. Years earlier, Dibango had moved to Paris, from where he had taken the global stage. Impressed, and happy to see the young Cameroonian brothers, Dibango knew he wanted Armand and Felix to join his band, which they gladly did when asked?
Not yet 20 years old, Armand had now embarked on his voyage, and because Dibango was such a generous man and band leader, it wasn’t long before Armand found a commanding musical voice of his own.
Since its dramatic beginning, Armand’s journey has moved forward without pause, and has been followed closely by some of the most influential voices in the music industry. Interest and demand for Armand’s talent, enthusiasm, and educational ethic was keen. Like Dibango and Simon, the well known and accomplished musicians who asked Armand to join them, were those who appreciated, and knew they could help Armand realize his mission, but who also knew that even though their careers were already so well established, Armand could help them stay fresh, interested, and still open to musical exploration and discovery.
Consider the number, quality, and eclecticism of the musicians who’ve worked with Armand, and you’ll better understand how successful he’s been spreading the word of his father:
Manu Di Bango — 1986
Paul Simon — 1990
Sir George Martin (The Beatles)
Ringo Starr (The Beatles)
Carole King
Lionel Richie (Commodores)
Herbie Hancock (Miles Davis/Headhunters)
Jaco Pastorius (Weather Report) — documentary
Al Di Meola (Return To Forever) — Return of The Elegant Gypsy Tour (2015)
The Brecker Brothers
Peter Gabriel (Genesis)
Sting (The Police)
Steve Stevens (Billy Idol)
John Patitucci
Alejandro Sanz (Spain)
Mercedes Sosa (Argentina)
João Bosco (Brazil)
Ladysmith Black Mambozo (South Africa)
Senri Kawaguchi (Japan) — Triangle
David Lee Roth (Van Halen)
Steven Tyler (Aerosmith)
Jeff Beck (Yardbirds) — with Stuart at Miles’ South of France castle.
Ziggy Marley (Jamaican) — description of two projects, one you and Stuart playing to discovered Bob Marley tapes.
“Armand is the most incredible bass player on the planet … with all the technique and so much more. He’s from Cameroon (Africa), and he’s always coming up with completely unexpected stuff. Plus, he likes to groove, and that makes me happy.”
Stuart Copeland is the drummer and founder of The Police, a band that after its arrival in 1979, went on to most dramatically become an important part of music history. Armand is now a member of Copeland’s new band, with which his journey continues.
Blood Diamonds …
other projects, ad campaigns, scores, etc …
Armand Sabal-Lecco
1989 — Paul Simon
Rhythm of the Saints
also World Tour band
Brecker Brothers
Herbie Hancock
Stanley Clarke
John Patitucci
Vanessa Williams
Steve Stevens
Félix Sabal Lecco
Brother
CAMEROON — Armand Sabal-Lecco’s father, Félix Sabal Lecco, was a minister in the government of Ahmadou Ahidjo, and was later appointed ambassador to Italy and France.
His father played the guitar as a young man, and two of his brothers are also musicians: Roger (bass guitar) and Félix (drums).
African Movement — Armand, following his older brothers, Roger and Felix (bass and drums), picked up a guitar when he was six years old. As a young man, Armand’s father, Félix Sabal-Lecco, played guitar, and was the reason his sons Roger and Felix were attracted to music. rehearsals and shows, and Armand began standing in for him as bass player. He decided the bass was more convenient than drums, easier to pack up, so he had more chance of picking up girls before they left after the show.
When he was fifteen, his father sent him to Paris to live with one of his sisters.
In Cameroon, Armand Sabal-Lecco had played funk, rock and straight-ahead jazz. It was only after moving to Europe that he started introducing African elements to his music. In the early 1980s he co-founded the Ogogoro Gang, an Afro Funk band, and began playing clubs on Europe. After a year the group was voted the number one “Jeune espoir francais.” He also developed his skills as a composer during this period.
Armand and his brother Félix formed the African fusion band Xamahal, performing together at the 1986 — A European Jazz Festival. Later he joined the Manu Dibango Band, led by Cameroonian saxophone and vibraphone player.
Manu Dibango — He toured with this band around the world and played on several of their albums.
Whenever landing in a new country, Armand sought out the local record stores, looking for an area’s favorite indigenous music. Manu Dibango was a generous bandleader, offering much solo and improvisational time for a number of players, including Armand, in his always large bands.
Fela Kuti — Suénalo
Salif Keita — Vernon Reid
1989 — Armand Sabal-Lecco was invited to New York by Paul Simon to play bass on Simon’s eighth studio album, The Rhythm of the Saints, released in 1990. His brother, Félix, plays drums on this album. This was followed by a 14-month world tour. On 15 August 1991 he performed with Paul Simon to an audience of over 750,000 people in New York’s Central Park. In 1993 he was invited to Washington D.C. to play with Paul Simon at President Bill Clinton‘s inauguration festivities. Sabal-Lecco played on Stanley Clarke‘s 1993 album East River Drive, and often played with Clarke in the years that followed. He became an official member of the Stanley Clarke band in 2002. In 2004 he played at the Bahamas Jazz Festival as a member of this band.
A sample of other artists with whom he has played include:
Vanessa Williams,
Maxi Priest, the
Brecker Brothers,
Herbie Hancock,
Manu Dibango,
Ladysmith Black Mambazo,
Jonathan Butler,
Sting and
Ray Charles.
He composed two songs and co-authored the cover song for John Patitucci‘s 1993 Another World, later nominated for a Grammy Award. As a composer he has written for:
Carole King
Jeff Beck
Stewart Copeland
John Patitucci
Another World (1993) Grammy Nominated
Don Grusin.
Armand’s album Positive Army features his brother Felix.
Paul Simon’s Amazing Graceland Tour
The world is suddenly dancing to a South African beat, much to the dismay of some antiapartheid activists</span
BY DAVID FRICKE
