Cymande
| Cymande | |
|---|---|
| Origin | London, England |
| Genres | Funk, reggae, soul, African music |
| Years active | 1971–74, 2006, 2012, 2014–present |
| Labels | Janus Records, Cherry Red Records |
| Associated acts | Al Green, Mandrill |
| Website | cymandeofficial.com, www.cymandeofficial.com |
| Past members | Patrick Patterson Steve Scipio Sam Kelly Pablo Gonsales Michael Rose Derrick Gibbs Peter Serreo Ray King Joey Dee Jimmy Lindsay George Kelly Trevor White Desmond Atwell Adrian Reid Ray Carless |
Cymande (See-man-day) are a British funk group that released several albums throughout the early 1970s and have recently reunited in 2014 with a European tour and a new album planned for release in 2015. The group was formed by Steve Scipio and Patrick Patterson in 1971 in London, England, along with musicians from Guyana, Jamaica and Saint Vincent. The name Cymande is derived from a calypso word for dove, symbolizing peace and love.
The group developed a subtle and complex, deep funk style influenced by calypso rhythms, jazz, African music, American soul and UK rock of the time. By the mid-1970s the band members were going their separate ways, and the group disbanded in 1974. It was not until 20 years later that they reaped any financial rewards, as their music became a popular source for samplers. Cymande's original albums are still widely sought-after by DJs and funk aficionados. Perhaps the band's best known recording is the soulful dancefloor filler called "Bra", which was later sampled by the American hip-hop group De La Soul and used as a breakbeat record by Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash.
Cymande was accidentally discovered by English producer John Schroeder in a Soho, London club where they were rehearsing. He was there to see a rock band but the gig had been cancelled, and he stumbled upon these West Indian musicians. He soon signed the band and recorded their initial single "The Message." The single was released by Janus Records, a division of Chess Records. The track reached #20 on the US Billboard R&B chart. This set the stage for Cymande's self-titled release in 1972.
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