A little about Donné

DONNÉ ROBERTS of African Guitar Summit| BIOGRAPHY

Singer songwriter, guitarist and producer

Donné came to wider recognition after he released his first album “Rhythm Was Born” and for his contribution as one of the members of the African Guitar Summit project, which won a JUNO in 2005 and was nominated for another one in 2007.

Donné Roberts was born in Madagascar, raised and educated in Moscow, Russia and now lives in Toronto. In Moscow, he was the first black VJ on MTV Russia. Touring Canada, he introduces his music to new fans who might be unfamiliar with the kinds of rhythms his music conveys and his fusion of seemingly dissimilar sounds.

For his new record INTERNATION, Donné Roberts immerses himself in Egyptian, Nigerian, North American Aboriginal, Japanese, Russian and Celtic music. With friends and collaborators, he makes something entirely original and uniquely Canadian that is imbued with a Donné Roberts sound. On this new album, the language combinations melt with his musical compositions to great effect. Though the songs were created for this project they have a way of sounding familiar and new at the same time.

Collaboration on his new album “INTERNATION” included musicians who are well loved and respected in their own recording and performing projects: Maryem Tollar, Jani Lauzon, David Woodhead, Drew Jurecka, Sonia Aimy, Rich Howse aka I-Sax, Walter Maclean and The Great Bob Scott.

Comments from fellow musicians:
From Julian Fauth, a JUNO award winning blues musician.

"There is never a dull moment working with Donné Roberts". You hear in Donne’s guitar solos the progression, the building of tension, the climax, all the elements of a good story. He’s capable of inventing music on the spot that sounds like he’s been laboring on for years. You never get any tired, hackneyed riffs with Donné. He always brings something fresh, something different." said

From Madagascar Slim a multiple JUNO award winning musician.

"He’s a melting pot of ideas, rhythm and influences. He’s very gifted; always re-inventing himself. Give him any good funky groove and he’s there. Once he latches on to it, he’s tighter than a bull’s ass in fly time. He can go on for hours. He can catch any groove and make something new out of it.

From: Paul Lamoureux, Producer, Musical Director, and Saxophonist

When Donné approached me to write out some bass lines for his new album for rehearsal purposes, I thought I knew what to expect, since I had prepared some basic chord charts for my band to play when we accompanied him on CBC French radio’s fundraising “Radiothon” in Toronto in November of last year (2005). Then I sat down and listened to “Rhythm Was Born”. That’s when I began to appreciate the subtle complexities of Donné’s music.
Different rhythms playing at the same time (polyrhythms), changes in tempo and meter that flowed from one to another while keeping the groove going, and melodic counterpoint that had me singing different parts in my sleep! He executes most of these devices on the guitar while singing a completely different part in one of many languages! I don’t know whether this kind of elegant musical multi-tasking is a result of his Madagascar roots, his general African origins, or his travels in Russia and throughout the world. I just know that I appreciate his music and his musicianship.
The real beauty of Donné’s music is that you don’t have to know anything about music to enjoy it. The grooves are so buoyant, the harmonies so approachable, and the messages so universal that all you have to do is close your eyes and let yourself be moved.