Anne Paceo

Anne Paceo chose the drums. The option forces admiration as the number of women percussionists can still be counted on the fingers of one hand. But Anne Paceo has the magic touch. And a hell of a technique acquired at the Paris Conservatory.
At the age of 19, she began a career as an accompanist with an astonishing array of artists ranging from King Archie Shepp to Philippe Catherine, via Mélissa Laveaux and Marcel Azzola. It is perhaps there that the young woman from Niort develops a taste for the world sound. At twenty-four, Anne Paceo recorded her first album for the same label as Ray Lema.

Her irruption on the jazz scene made a big noise. The critics hailed the arrival of a “major figure of the new wave of jazz”. Her following albums, crowned with Victoires de la musique, are as many sonic journeys, where Anne Paceo explores genres: funk, soul, pop, jazz; configurations: from trio to XXL formations, and continents: from West Africa to Siberia, from Mongolia to Turkey. Stunning experience in 2018 with the album Fables of Shedwagon, the result of her meeting with eight Burmese musicians. Today, Anne Paceo slips into the skin of a healer with S.H.A.M.A.N.E.S, an album inspired by the sacred chants of the world. Don’t forget that Shamanes are also bewitching and that Anne Paceo is the most scenic of percussionists. It is said.

Cropyright © Sylvain Gripoix