Les Négresses Vertes, formed in 1987, is a French

France

The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

 music group that is best described as a fusion of world music

World music

World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...

  and some aspects of alternative rock

Alternative rock

Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...

. Their tracks often feature acoustic guitar

Steel-string acoustic guitar

A steel-string acoustic guitar is a modern form of guitar descended from the classical guitar, but strung with steel strings for a brighter, louder sound...

 and accordion

Accordion

The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....

, as well as some tracks containing many other 'traditional' instruments such as piano

Piano

The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...

 and brass

Brass instrument

A brass instrument is a musical instrument whose sound is produced by sympathetic vibration of air in a tubular resonator in sympathy with the vibration of the player's lips...

. Their style is fairly upbeat and energetic on the majority of their tracks, with unusual rhythms, vocals delivered with a generous dose of zeal and vibrant energy, and accompaniment melodies ranging from lilting and distant to eccentric and fast-paced. These two factors give many of their pieces a strong sense of direction.

History

Formed in 1987, Les Négresses Vertes arose from the alternative music scene in Paris. The original line-up included singer Helno (born Noël Rota in Paris, December 25, 1963 - January 22, 1993, also known as Helno Rota de Lourcqua), Jo Roz (also known as l'Ami Ro; real name Joe Ruffier des Aimes) (piano), Stéfane Mellino (guitar), Jean-Marie Paulus (bass), Gaby (drums), Matthias Canavese (accordion), Michel Ochowiak (trumpet), Abraham Sirinix (also known as Abraham Braham) (trombone) and Iza Mellino (backing vocals).

The original members were a group of friends, many of whom had not played their instruments before forming the band. The group's name translates as "green negresses"; it arose from abuse hurled at them at one of their first concerts. The insult is a comparison to the kitsch art of Vladimir Tretchikoff

Vladimir Tretchikoff

Vladimir Grigoryevich Tretchikoff was one of the most commercially successful artists of all time - his painting Chinese Girl is one of the best selling art prints ever.Tretchikoff was a...

. They were initially signed to the independent Off The Track label, and released the punk protest song "200 Ans D'Hypocrisie" in response to their country's French Revolution bicentennial celebrations.

In 1989 they released their first album, Mlah, to good reviews in both France and the UK, where the single "Zobi La Mouche" just failed to reach the charts and where they toured and played the WOMAD festival. They also made a controversial tour of Lebanon. Their second album, Famille Nombreuse, in 1991, featured new drummer Zé Verbalito.

In 1990, Les Négresses Vertes contributed the song "I love Paris" to the Cole Porter

Cole Porter

Cole Albert Porter was an American composer and songwriter. Born to a wealthy family in Indiana, he defied the wishes of his domineering grandfather and took up music as a profession. Classically trained, he was drawn towards musical theatre...

 tribute album "Red Hot + Blue

Red Hot + Blue

Red Hot + Blue is the first in the series of compilation albums from the Red Hot Organization. The recording was the first in the Red Hot Benefit Series...

" produced by the Red Hot Organization

Red Hot Organization

Red Hot Organization is a not-for-profit, 501 3, international organization dedicated to fighting AIDS through pop culture.Since its inception in 1989, over 400 artists, producers and directors have contributed to over 15 compilation albums, related television programs and media events to raise...

.

Helno was by this time struggling with serious heroin addiction, and Stéfane Mellino and Canavese replaced him as the main songwriters. Helno died at his parents' house on January 22, 1993.

Several members left the band after Helno's death, but Les Négresses Vertes continued around the nucleus of Mellino, Canavese, Ochowiak and Paulus. In 1995 they released the album Zig-Zague, followed by the live album Green Bus. By 2000's Trabendo, the group's style had shifted to a dub oriented lounge style.

Albums

• Mlah
  Mlah
  -Track listing:All songs written by Les Négresses Vertes#"La Valse"#"Zobi la Mouche"#"C'est Pas la Mer à Boire"#"Voilà l'Été"#"Orane"#"La Faim des Haricots"#"Les Yeux de Ton Père"#"Il"#"L'Homme des Marais"#"Les Rablablas les Roubliblis"#"Marcelle Ratafia"...
  
  (1988)
• Famille Nombreuse (1991)
• 10 Remixes (87-93) (1993) (compilation of remixes)
• An Aperitif (1994)
• Zig-Zague (1994)
• Green Bus (1996), live
• Trabendo (1999)
• Acoustic Clubbing (2001)
• Le Grand Déballage (2002) ('Best of' album)
• L'essentiel (2004) ('Best of' album)
• À l'Affiche (2006)

Singles

• Il (1989)
• Zobi La Mouche (1989)
• Voila L’ete (1989)
• "I Love Paris" (1990) (Tribute album "Red Hot + Blue
  Red Hot + Blue
  Red Hot + Blue is the first in the series of compilation albums from the Red Hot Organization. The recording was the first in the Red Hot Benefit Series...
  
  " produced by the Red Hot Organization
  Red Hot Organization
  Red Hot Organization is a not-for-profit, 501 3, international organization dedicated to fighting AIDS through pop culture.Since its inception in 1989, over 400 artists, producers and directors have contributed to over 15 compilation albums, related television programs and media events to raise...
  
  )
• Famille Heureuse (1992)
• Hou! Mamma Mia (1992)
• Sous Le soleil de bodega (1992)
• Apres La pluie (1994)
• Mambo Show (1994)
• A Quoi Bon (1995)
• Easy Girls (1999)
• Leila (1999)
• Hasta Llegar (2000) ('Promo' CD - was never released)
• Spank / Abuela (2000)

External links

• http://www.negressesvertes.com/
• http://www.lnv.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/
• http://www.mellino.org
• Concert photos by Laurent Orseau (Black Session)