Hervé SAMB, an African Charlie Parker… with strings !

Hervé was born in a coastal town just nearby Dakar, Senegal. He started playing guitar at the age of 9, cradled by his African roots. Very quickly he hooked on African-American music, focusing his interest on Blues especially.

He formed his first band at the age of 14: the Hervé SAMB Quartet. They started gigging in local Blues festivals, notably at the St Louis’ Blues Festival where he was invited on stage to jam with Lucky PETERSON. Boney FIELDS was playing trumpet in Lucky’s horn section at the time… But that’s another story.

Hervé then meets Pierre VAN DORMAL, a Dakar Music Conservatory professor and guitar teacher. This encounter is a turning point for Hervé as VAN DORMAL becomes his musical mentor, introducing the young man to Jazz.

A natural born player, he begins working on his technique and studies harmony. Bach, Charlie PARKER and John COLTRANE are studied extensively, the young man absorbing all musical knowledge he can put his hands and ears on. His improvement is spectacular.

Hervé arrived in Paris en 1998, aged 19. He reacquainted Boney at a jam session. And though Boney did not recognize at once the young guitar player who had been jamming with Lucky PETARSON 5 years before, he took him aboard immediately.

His reputation in the profession grew. He was hired on his first world tour at the age of 22, playing with Amadou and Mariam.

© Chris HOVAN

Hervé has played with various bands and artists, excelling in every style of music: Cheik Tidiane SECK (Afro-pop), Peter MANSON, Nelson VERAS (Jazz), Linda HOPKINS (Rhythm & Blues), Linton GRAVEY (Reggae)…

He set up BENKADI, an Afro Pop combo, toured in the US with another band called « SOMI » and played on many recordings both as a guitar player and musical director.

As a composer, Hervé has set up two different bands, both including his own material: an Afro-Jazz trio in Paris and a more experimental project based in NYC

He’s then spotted by sax player David MURRAY, who hired him as musical director for the band DIEUF DIEUL, before asking him to become guitar player in his band. Hervé has recorded « Creole III » on which he penned a composition featuring Pharaoh SANDERS.

Though only 25, Hervé already possesses a range of musical experience a lot of other musicians would envy him. Both prolific and creative, he is a full-fledged artist who has developed a fiery and subtle guitar style. Playing nearly 365 days per year, he’s only too happy to expose his talents to the world, be it on the Parisian club scene or on the biggest stages around the world.