A brand new track by Patrick Ruffino with a vintage funk-rock sound reminiscent of early Afro-beat and the masters of high-life. In Come Back, Patrick Ruffino is singing about migration. About how leaving your homeland to make a living and learn about life elsewhere can be positive. But it’s important to remember where you are from and to give something back to the place where you were born. In the video we see Patrick & some children of immigrant parents who come back to their native country & there is a joyful reunion with the family who stayed behind.
Born in the 70s in Benin, Patrick Ruffino is a bassist, singer-songwriter, arranger and multi- instrumentalist. He grew up in the funkiest capital of Africa, Cotonou. His multicultural background with a Beninese father, a Burkinabe mother but also a Ghanaian grandmother gave him access to all styles of African music from an early age. His great curiosity and thirst for learning also allowed him to discover jazz, funk, soul and Afro-Cuban music.
From the age of 10, he started singing and soon after grabbed the bass from the bassist of the choir and never let go. After more than 20 years of career spanning Africa, Europe and the USA and a very well received first album, he released Agoo in 2018. You can hear the force of sacred percussions along with bright funk gimmicks and the sharp riffs of seventies rock. Benin is also the cradle of voodoo rhythms and worship and we find this tradition in the themes of his songs. They honour elders, certain codes of conduct, respect and self-fulfilment.
Patrick Ruffino has invented an original, revolutionary and yet somehow familiar sound, full of multiple African and Western influences with it’s own strong, relevant style.
“A catchy album, which reflects his rich heritage. “
JDD
“Agoo is both lively and poetic, with beautiful guitar sounds and a collection of other magical instruments. “
A NOUS PARIS
“The bassist and singer is back with a new album mixing Benin rhythms and joyful funk for lovers of groove. “
FIP
“Agoo has vintage colors, those of the 70s, conveying huge musical energy. “
RFI
“Joyful and upbeat vintage ‘funk-rock’.”
RADIO NOVA
“A laboratory of high-level fusion, between pan-African scholarship, little-known rhythms of his native country and the legacy of great black American music.”
L’HUMANITE
“Benin born bass player and singer Patrick Ruffino leads afrobeat, voodoo-funk and the sounds of south Sahel from a vintage sound to a sound of today “
JAZZTHING
“As a versatile singer and bass player, he creates atmosphere and groove, from early afro beat to highlife and Congolese soukous, with a trace of old school funk and mostly local topics. “
NA DANN…
“’Agoo’ is vintage funk-rock songs, which remind us of the early masters of afrobeat. The sound is great and the music-making inventive yet familiar.”
INMUSIC
“Patrick Ruffino mixes the musical traditions and languages from his homeland, with influences from jazz, soul, Afro-Cuban rhythms and above all a strong dose of funk.”
TROPICALIDAD
“this is just the future of West African rock”
MOORS MAGAZINE
Contacts:
MDC : MAGGIE DOHERTY
maggie.doherty@music-mdc.com
+331 42 01 95 36
