In the past years, Monsieur Dubois has created a strong live reputation with a very satisfying blend of Junglebeats, Funk, Souljazz and Afrogrooves, a.k.a. "Danceable Hardjazz".

From it's beginning in 1999 Monsieur Dubois has been in the news for several occasions, as promptly reaching the finals at the Nederlandse Jazzconcours only in their first year. Over the years they organized various evenings and clubnights in venues all over The The Netherlands. Between 2000 en 2001 they hosted the "Blue Beatz"-nights at Club Blauwe Vis in hometown Rotterdam, with each month different guests and specials. Also during that period, they got together several times with DJ Alias Poeh at his "Djazzedelic" in the Amsterdam clubs Mazzo and Panama. In 2002 Monsieur Dubois hosted "Supersonic" together with the Utrecht based "MPF-collective" at Hollands ultimate dance-temple Off Corso in Rotterdam.

At this occasion for the very first time, Monsieur Dubois got together with DJ Soul Rabbi. After 10 years on the road this incredible raregroove specialist finally starts gaining the recognition and respect that he deserves. An unbelievable collection vinyl originals - ranging from deepfunk, sweetsoul to 70's latin - and with some excellent references on his name (such as Keb Darge, Rueben Willsen, Jazzonova, Beta Lounge and Muffathalle), DJ Soul Rabbi can be considered one of Europe's leading DJ's in the field. Without a doubt DJ Soul Rabbi is a remarkable phenomenon, somebody to whom soul is not just a hype or gimmick, but a philosophy and a way of life, which he expresses to the public through his music.

In 2003 Monsieur Dubois and DJ Soul Rabbi were together guest at the Maastricht collective "Soulful Boulevard" and turned a crowd of 800 dancing people absolutely crazy. Later on that year Monsieur Dubois and DJ Soulrabbi organized the first Groove Soul Party at one of Rotterdam's oldest jazzcafes Dizzy. The place had never been as crowded and recently a follow up was held, again with great success.

Through the years Monsieur Dubois was nominated on several occasions such as the leading Dutch Jazz Competition 2001. Furthermore they have been a regular guest at the Amsterdam Uitmarkt (the annual opening of the cultural season) where thousands of people enjoy their music. One of their biggest climaxes so far was reached at the renowned North Sea Jazz Festival, where they made a furious debut in 2002.

At the moment Monsieur Dubois is working on the production of their first album, due to arrive later on this year. For now, you may check them out on vinyl, on the latest EP released by the Amsterdam label Unexpected Records.

Critics:

"The swing of the New Cool Collective, the adventure of Bugge Wesseltoft, the groove of Herbie Hancock and the enthusiasm on the old Weather Report records (…) Monsieur Dubois makes sure you can't sit still."
(Speaker)

"What makes Monsieur Dubois an extremely vital live experience is their feeling to not just perfection the jazz from the 50's and 60's in an academic way, but to treat it as if it were the popular music of today, as a truly original contribution to "Nu-Jazz" (…) Great!"
(Weser Kurier)

"They all were killing!"
(Nicholas Payton)

Reference:

NL: North Sea Jazz Festival (The Hague), Off Corso (Rotterdam), Panama (Amsterdam), Oerol Festival (Terschelling)
D: 45RPM (Wuppertal), Lovelite, B-Flat (Berlin), Unique Club (Düsseldorf), Blue Moon Bar (Bremen)
B: Ancien Belgique, Beursschouwburg (Brussel), At The Bebop (Leuven).

© Jūratė Kučinskaitė