Famous for their revival of Occitan, the ancient language of southern France, Moussu T e lei Jovents have always been quirky, charming and original, but now they are adding a new sophistication to their songs. Singer Tatou and the multi-instrumentalist known simply as Blu come from around Marseilles, and set out to match Provençal styles and a dash of chanson against black musical influences from the Americas that have long been a part of the port city's culture.

Between occitan tradition and black music, Moussu T e lei jovents invent the song of Marseilles anew to spread the message of Provence, a harbour turned towards the sea, cosmopolitan and proud of its history. The members of Moussu T e lei jovents include: Massilia Sound System's founder (Tatou) and guitarist (Blu) and a famous Brazilian percussionist (Jam Da Silva).

Their music draws on Marseilles music from the 1930s, a mixture of Provencal songs and Vincent Scotto's operettas and of the newly discovered black music (blues and jazz, and Caribbean and Brazilian music). With this cosmopolitan selection of musical styles, they bring together their latest collection of shanty songs that tell of the briny seas, abandoned shipyards and the calanques.
Their repertoire reflects the Occitan shoreline between Marseille and La Ciotat: traditional yet modern, local yet universal, nostalgic yet foot tapping. Together.

The concept behind the group Moussu T e lei jovents which brings together the founding member and the latest recruit of Massilia Sound System and a new beat to its songs from Marseilles and La Ciotat by incorporating drums from north-eastern Brazil.

Moussu T takes its inspiration from Marseille in the thirties, a veritable musical melting pot, where Provençal songs could be heard alongside local operettas by Vincent Scotto or the black music bursting onto the scene at the time (i.e. blues and jazz, with music from the West Indies and Brazil too).

This provides the background for the group's new, up-to-the minute songs, sea and harbours shanties that reek of the briny air, shipyard cranes and rocky inlets. A new repertoire to match the coastline of this part of the world, from Marseille or La Ciotat, a true blend of old and new, local and universal, full of nostalgia and foot-tapping rhythms!

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