Yakir Arbib and Conti Bilong "Afro Baroque" duo premiere - Sunside, Paris

Yakir Arbib & Conti Bilong “Afro Baroque” Duo Premiere – Sunside Paris

November 23, 2023 – Paris, France

About the Event

On November 23rd, 2023, pianist-composer Yakir Arbib and drummer-vocalist Conti Bilong unveiled their new project “Afro Baroque” with a duo premiere at Sunside on Rue des Lombards in Paris. This first public appearance introduced the pair’s original repertoire in an intimate club renowned for spotlighting boundary-pushing jazz.

Music & Atmosphere

“Afro Baroque” brings together Baroque-style counterpoint, dynamic jazz interplay, and traditional rhythmic currents from Central Africa and the broader Mediterranean. At the piano, Arbib weaves agile lines and harmonic mosaics; Bilong answers with polyrhythmic drums, voice, and percussion, creating call-and-response textures that move from meditative to jubilant. The set unfolded like a conversation—lyrical, earthy, and propulsive—drawing the audience into a vivid, color-rich sound world.

Significance

Presenting the project at Sunside, a keystone of Paris’s jazz life, gave “Afro Baroque” a high-profile launch. The premiere marked the formal start of Arbib and Bilong’s collaboration as a duo, setting the stage for future recordings and international dates while underscoring their shared commitment to bridging traditions through imaginative, contemporary jazz.

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