Ursus Minor, D' de Kabal & Spike
Photo by Guy Le Querrec
Ursus Minor was created in January 2003 by keyboardist and composer Tony Hymas (Jeff Beck, Sam Rivers, Jack Bruce, John McLaughlin), guitarist Jef Lee Johnson (Common, Eryka Badu, The Roots, News from the Jungle), saxophonist Francois Corneloup (Bernard Lubat, Louis Sclavis). In its first year, the group included drummer David King. Since spring 2005, drummer Stokley Williams (of Mint Condition) has played with the quartet.
Ursus Minor as a group is more like a travelling unit rather than a fixed and monostyle ensemble. Ursus Minor (the Latin name of the star constellation “Little Bear”) suggested in its first record, Zugzwang, a lucid entry into the 21st century with an approach anchored in current world issues and boosted by the lessons of the past. Zugwang welcomed a few guests, including MCs M1 and Umi (Dead Prez), Boots Riley (The Coup), French rappers D’ de Kabal (Assassin, Kabal, Spoke Orchestra), Spike (Antagony), singer Ada Dyer (Motown) as well as guitar legend Jeff Beck.
Since Stokley Williams joined in, the group has toured in France (Le Mans, Paris, Luz St Sauveur) and started to record a new album that will be out in 2006. Ursus Minor will tour again in France in November/December 2005 and will invite Minneapolis MC Brother Ali for the Sons d’Hiver festival in Paris in January 2006.
On October 15, 2005 at the Triple Rock in Minneapolis, Ursus Minor will present an exceptional and unique show inviting Minneapolis MCs Brother Ali and Eyedea as well as French MCs D’ de Kabal and Spike.
