Michael Mondesir

Electric bass guitar, composer.
Born: London, 6 Feb 1966.

Brother of Mark Mondesir, Michael, began playing bass guitar at 16, after four years of playing drums.

Listening regularly to radio programmes, he discovered Billy Cobham, the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Weather Report and other musicians and groups., latching on to the rhythmic, melodic and harmonic ideas of Jan Hammer, Zakir Hussain, Shankar, Subramaniam and Frank Zappa (he had no formal training).

In 1983 he formed a trio, EMJIEM, with brother Mark and guitarist Hawi Gondwe.

From 1984-6 he attended the jazz workshops at Intercharge in North London, where he met Julian Joseph, Courtney Pine and Philip Bent, and from the late 1980s Mondesir played with Pine, Steve Wiliamson, Jason Rebello, Annette Peacock, Django Bates and Billy Cobham.

He regularly plays with like-minded alumni of various strands of the 1980s Brit scene, such as Django Bates and Iain Ballamy.

Mondesir is a superb bassist with phenomenal concentration and excellent time.

Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oLvX8GEAmA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbBFu4ZJhDw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5_duzwiS-E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrFPulQHceM

MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/michaelmondesir