Mathieu Borgne - Music is the Universal Language of Mankind!

Apr 28

Apr 28 Mathieu Borgne - Music is the Universal Language of Mankind!

At age seven, Mathieu started to learn to play the piano which lasted for ten years. Mathieu admits that he did not practice much but ensured that he listened to everything being taught to him at the time.

Piano was his first exposure in his musical journey and then at age fourteen, Mathieu started playing drums and played ‘hard rock’ in bands. During 1990 to 1992 he attended a jazz C.I.M music school in Paris playing the drums. His music professor, Yves Teslar, taught him all the traditional beats from African to Caribbean.

In 1994, Mathieu played French Caribbean music with a band called, Biguin In, and enjoyed that exposure so much so that it still has its effects on his present day music. He started playing drums with Calypsociation in 1996 and it was the first time that he was introduced to the steelpan.

He was so captured by the sweet strains of the steelpan that he visited Trinidad and Tobago in 1998 and played in his first steelband panorama competition with Carib Tokyo when they played Kitchener’s, ‘Symphony on the Street’ arranged by Beverley Griffiths. The Pan Jumbie had hooked Mathieu. He absolutely loved the musical arrangements and the tune itself.

In 1999, he played with Tokyo Steel Orchestra who unfortunately did not qualify for the finals, so three days before the finals of the Panorama, Mathieu went San Fernando and played with Skiffle Bunch, playing, ‘Coffee Street’ arranged by Andy Narell in his first Panorama competition. Mathieu described the experience as beautiful.

In 2000, he arranged for Calypsociation for the first ‘World Steelband Festival hosted in Trinidad and Tobago. The Pan Jumbie took him to Desperadoes in 2002 where he played ‘Savannah on Fire’ arranged by the legendary, Clive Bradley, his mentor. Mathieu musical quest then led him to new York in 2003 where he arranged, ‘Ellie Man’ composed by Jeff Narell and sung by Crazy for Women of Steel.

In 2005, he formed his French Caribbean Jazz band, Djazil, they did an album in 2011 and it currently working on their second one. Mathieu visited London in 2006 and played drums with Glissando Steel Orchestra who played, ‘Colours Again’ arranged by the iconic Rudy ‘Two Lef’ Smith. Mathieu and Laurent Lalsingué teamed up in 2015 to arrange, Prophet of Pan’ for Calypsociation in the first International Panorama hosted in Trinidad and Tobago.

When he spoke about his times playing with Phase II Pan Groove and Dr Len ‘Boogsie’ Sharpe in the 2017, 2018 and 2019 Panorama competitions, he was beaming with excitement. He was so happy to have had the experience of playing Boogsie’s music with Phase II Pan Groove.

His Trinidad and Tobago Panorama experiences saw him arrange, ‘Lightning Flash’ for Pandemonium in the medium category in 2018 for the first time. In 2019, he arranged Nailah Blackman’s, ‘Iron Love’ for Xpress 21 in the small band category.

Calypsociation is Mathieu’s heartbeat, he arranged for them in 2000 and workedalongside Andy Narell from 2002 to 2006 when Andy lived in Paris. They performed at several concerts during that time and in 2004 did an album entitled, ‘The Passage’. Calypsociation also went on our to California in 2005 from San Francisco to the Portland Jazz Festival. Mathieu really enjoyed that experience with Andy Narell and Calypsociation.

This talented and driven musician continues his musical journey exploring the different genres of music to quench his thirst and to use his acquired knowledge in creating his own unique style. He is humble and always willing to share his musical knowledge. When asked about his music, Mathieu replied, ‘music is love and I share as much love as I can and try to encourage others to do the same’. Panpodium wishes Mathieu a very long musical career.