René Lacaille

René Lacaille is the master of the spicy séga-maloya rhythms of the Island Réunion, Indian Ocean. As a child, he played in the island in balls with his father, before creating the legendary group Caméléon who invented electric Maloya, blending traditional Réunion music with modern western timbres. René's talent and curiosity led him to master accordion, guitar, bongos, drums, ukulélé, accordina and saxophone. René recorded Patanpo (1999) with the famous maloya singer Danyel Waro and Digdig (World Music Network 2002) with the great American guitarist Bob Brozman. It became an international hit, reaching #3 in Europe's World Music charts. René has toured extensively and repeatedly throughout Europe, North America, Africa, Australia, Brazil, China. René’s album Mapou (WMN 2005) brought him the Gus Viseur price for world music. His last album Cordéon Kaméléon (Connecting Cultures 2009), awarded by German critics, is the living proof of René’s faithfulness to the traditions, creativity and sense of universality.
On stage his family band is full of cheerful mood, emotions and energy.
"An extraordinary talent" Dirty Linen USA
The gravel-voiced troubadour in rumbustuous form, swinging between rum-soaked chansons and thumping singalongs" The Observer UK