"Malagasy guitarist D'Gary, gave a sparkling performance, accompanied only by a singer/dancer and a percussionist who made a single small rattle sound like an entire rhythm section." -- The Beat Magazine

The Indian Ocean island of Madagascar is famed for its bio-diversity, home to lemurs and other flora and fauna that are found nowhere else on earth. This same diversity is expressed culturally through the influences of settlers arriving from such disparate locations as Indonesia, Africa, Arabia, Persia, and ultimately Europe.

D’Gary, whose real name is Ernest Randrianasolo, was born in Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar. He comes from the Bara ethnic group, who travel the vast plains of south central Madagascar (“the Grand Isle”) tending their herds of zebu. While still a child D’Gary’s family moved to Tulear in the southeast of Madagsacar, where his father, a policeman, had been transferred. It was in Tulear that D’Gary first picked up a guitar, borrowing his brother’s instrument when he wasn’t playing it in a local band. D’Gary spent long hours learning to play, mastering tsapiky, a rhythm which has become today the signature sound of southern Madagascar.

When D’Gary’s father retired in 1978, the family returned to Betroka, their place of origin. His father died shortly thereafter, and according to the Bara custom, there was an “havoria”, a funeral ceremony. It was at this “havoria” that D’Gary first heard the traditional songs and instruments of the Bara peoples. He was fascinated by these sounds, and was soon able to mimic them on the guitar. By the end of that decade, he was performing publicly, but another ten years was to pass before he made his first recording.

Primarily an acoustic guitarist, D’Gary has developed numerous open tunings in order to perform the music from his country in a way that replicates the sound of traditional stringed instruments such as the lokanga (violin), the marovany, or the kabosy. His reputation began to spread, and when visiting American musicians Henry Kaiser and David Lindley came to Madagascar to record, they insisted on recording D’Gary. The result was the hugely successful “World Out of Time” (Shanachie) compilation, bringing D’Gary to international attention. More recordings quickly followed. With his unique tunings and impeccable technique, D’Gary is recognized as a solid member of the world-class pantheon of guitar players.

Accompanied by Rataza (Irma Ratazanina) on vocals and dancing, and Xavier-Martial Francois on percussion and katsa, the trio will perform in Seattle on August 1 at The Carlson Theater, Bellevue Community College in a concert presented by 91.3FM KBCS-FM in association with Rakumi Arts. They are celebrating the release of D’Gary’s third recording on Label Bleu/Indigo, called Akata Meso (“green grass”). This recording is released in the United States by Harmonia Mundi-USA.