France’s most innovative brass band was the brainchild of the Toulouse-born trumpet-player Androuze. Back in 1992 Androuze moved to Paris and set about forming a group of musicians ready to drop whatever they were doing and rush off to liven up the atmosphere in a local bar or private party. Taking their name from a well-known French comic strip, Les Fils de Crao, the band soon began to establish an excellent reputation for themselves on the local bar and club circuit.

Just as Les Fils de Crao were about to make a major name for themselves on the French music scene, however, Androuze left the band and was swiftly replaced by a new trumpet-player. The band’s current line-up thus features Bruno "Proto" Gautheron (on trumpet), Sylvain "Tub" Lacombe (on trombone), Serge "Roufi" Calka (on bass tuba), Eric "Tafani" Dubessay (on snare drum and vocals), Cyril "Vich" Noacco (on bass drum) and last, but definitely not least, banjo-player Bruno "Grand" Clark. (Music fans will be aware that Clark, who produced an album for the group Malka Family in 1990 and helped set up the independent label Patate Records, was already a well-known figure on the French music scene).

Pooling their individual influences these six talented musicians soon created a veritable melting-pot of sounds, fusing James-Brown-inspired soul and George-Clinton-style funk with ska rhythms inspired by Desmond Dekker and The Skatalites. The group's innovative sound also owes a great debt to the famous funk brass bands of New Orleans and, in particular, to The Dirty Dozen Brass Band. The group’s shows always included a great deal of movement on and off stage (they enjoy a very direct contact with their audiences) and it was not long before they decided to split the drum section in two, allowing the drummers to pick up their instruments and march around freely. When the group were forced to change their name in 1994, owing to a certain similarity with another French group, they naturally decided to call themselves Ceux Qui Marchent Debout (Those Who Play Standing).

From the very beginning of their career Ceux Qui Marchent Debout have always given priority to live shows, performing in local bars and clubs but also on the thriving street theatre scene, where they soon made a major name for themselves with their zany performances. In between their hectic touring schedule the band continued to work on their own compositions, writing a number of songs and instrumentals. In order to fund their musical activities, Ceux Qui Marchent Debout also set up their own association and obtained an entertainment licence. After meeting up with an agent and launching a full-time professional career, the band were invited to play at a number of music and street theatre festivals in 1994 and since then their career has continued to go from strength to strength.

In July 1995 Ceux Qui Marchent Debout performed one of their first major concerts at the Bataclan in Paris, supporting the famous American funk star Bootsy Collins. Later that year the band got another big break when the French film director Cedric Klapisch heard them playing live in a bar in Bastille. Impressed by their infectiously rhythmic sound, Klapisch instantly approached the band and asked them to write a song for the soundtrack of his film "Chacun cherche son chat"

Ceux Qui Marchent Debout really came to the attention of the general public the following year, however, when they performed at the televised ceremony for the Molières (the French National Theatre Awards). Marching up to the stage through the audience assembled in the Théâtre du Châtelet the band gave a rousing rendition of "Food for Love", the song they had just written for Klapisch’s film "Chacun cherche son chat".

Following this remarkable performance, Ceux Qui Marchent Debout set off on a series of extensive tours across the country. Soon the band were everywhere - playing at the Café de la Danse in Paris on 9 March, performing at the Albi jazz festival in the South of France and the Printemps de Bourges festival in April, taking part in France’s annual Fête de la Musique on 21 June, then appearing at RFI’s all-star guest evening at the Divan du Monde in Paris. After performing at the Montreal Jazz Festival in Canada, the band appeared at the famous Francofolies festival in la Rochelle on 15 July, performing beneath the brightly-coloured awning of the "Magic Mirrors" (a 1920’s circus tent). This highly original venue suited the band’s style perfectly, for the musicians were able to march around on the same level as their audience.

Ceux Qui Marchent Debout went into the studio at the start of November 1996 to record their début album, entitled simply "Debout". This highly accomplished first album featured 14 tracks (all original compositions written by the band) and was produced by the renowned English producer Andy Lyden (who had made a name for himself for his work with the Nigerian singer Femi, Jamaican star Lee Scratch Perry and the French group Les Têtes Raides). "Debout" was greeted with rapturous reviews from the critics who hailed it as a masterpiece and the first single release, "La Mayo", was soon being played non-stop on all the major radio stations. Later that year the band’s song "Food for Love" appeared on the soundtrack of "Chacun cherche son chat" and they recorded a track on Patate Records’ excellent Ska compilation album "Let's Skank".

After performing at the Festival du Vent held in Calvi, Corsica, Ceux Qui Marchent Debout set off on a 10-day tour of La Réunion. On their return the band appeared at the Théâtre de l'Européen in Paris (29 October - 10 November). The audience was treated to a highly original concert where the support group Los Sombreros opened the evening’s festivities in the bar. Ceux Qui Marchent Debout then took to the stage, launching into two non-stop hours of rousing brass sounds.

The final highlight of 96 was a memorable performance at the Olympia (26 November) where Ceux Qui Marchent Debout supported the famous French funk outfit FFF.

1997 got off to a flying start for the band when they performed at Midem (the international record industry fair held in Cannes). Ceux Qui Marchent Debout were spotted by talent scouts from the English label EMI who not only bought the rights to the band’s début album but also offered them a recording deal on the spot.

During the MIDEM festival Ceux Qui Marchent Debout also scooped the 1997 New Talent Award presented by the SACEM (the French Association of Songwriters and Composers).

Ceux Qui Marchent Debout then embarked upon another series of extensive tours in France and abroad. The band managed to squeeze in a quick performance at the Festival du Film Policier held in Cognac at the beginning of April, then flew out to Louisiana to appear at the Festival International de Lafayette (an occasion which gave the band a chance to get back in touch with their Brass Band roots!) Ceux Qui Marchent Debout then headed on to Africa where they proved a huge hit with audiences in Nigeria and Senegal.

On 21 June the band took part in the Fête de la Musique once again, this time performing in Blois. Ceux Qui Marchent Debout were then invited to appear at all the top summer music festivals. After playing at the Open Air Festival in St Gallen Switzerland in June, the band performed at the Festival de la Côte d'Opale in the north of France in July, and soon followed this with appearances at the Montreal Jazz Festival and the Festival d’Eté in Quebec. At the end of August Ceux Qui Marchent Debout stopped off in Brittany to play at the Jeudis du port de Brest, then headed off to Nantes for Les Rendez-Vous de l'Erdre.  

After a short holiday break Ceux Qui Marchent Debout threw themselves back into their touring schedule with a vengeance, performing numerous gigs up and down the country. On 5 November they proved to be a big hit at the New Morning in Paris. In April '99 the band were back on the road again, this time flying out to the U.S. to perform in Houston then Louisiana. Ceux Qui Marchent Debout proved a particularly big hit when they played two concerts in Louisiana, bringing the house down at the popular 'Francophone Music Festival' in Lafayette.

After this impressive array of performances Ceux Qui Marchent Debout are now firmly established at the forefront of the French music scene. Whether they are simply playing acoustically in the street or performing with huge amplifiers up on stage, you can be sure that this orange-clad band of merry men will be setting the place alight with their loud and extremely funky fusion of soul, reggae, rap and Latino rhythms.

Ceux Qui Marchent Debout toured during most of the summer, appearing in July at the Solidays festival in Paris and in August at the well-known Marciac Jazz Festival. They are scheduled for three gigs in Paris at the Trabendo this autumn.

In the autumn of 2002, Ceux Qui Marchent Debout played four dates at trendy Parisian venue Le Trabendo which - not surprisingly, given the tiny size of the venue -  were all sold out long in advance. Fans were treated to a spectacular performance with a number of guest stars from the band’s recent album joining them live. Indeed, on certain tracks up to 25 musicians crowded together on stage!

The CQMD line-up was soon expanded with the arrival of a new recruit. Trumpeter Arthur Simon (famous for his work with the likes of Tony Allen and David Murray) joined the band at a concert at Bercy stadium with Manu Chao. After this, CQMD hit the road on an extensive international tour, playing dates in Havana, New Orleans, Dakar and South Africa. Concerts attracted a major turn-out wherever they played.

In 2005, the band put out a fifth album "Orange", presenting their new songs to the public at the famous New Morning, in Paris. After that, they hit the road on another mega-tour that took them to the Maghreb,  the Middle East and northern Europe.

In the autumn of 2006, France’s notorious ‘bad boy’ rapper (and ex-frontman of NTM) Joey Starr asked CQMD to join him live on stage at the Olympia. The band accepted and struck up a funky medley of NTM hits, also making a vibrant contribution to "Gare au Jaguarr" (the title track from Starr’s debut solo album). CQMD and Joey Starr would team up again at the same venue in February 2007, repeating their wild on-stage performance.

Meanwhile, at the beginning of 2006, Ceux Qui Marchent Debout introduced a new dimension to their sound, adding electronic drums and a “fuzz” (distorter) on trombone. These featured heavily on the group’s sixth album, "The Jackpot", released in February 2007. Tracks on the new album flirted outrageously with electro-rock, P funk – and even disco at times! – but remained true to the band’s commitment to groove. CQMD hit the road again in 2007, kicking off their tour with two concerts at Le New Morning (9 & 10 February).

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While being, as always, on the road, Ceux Qui Marchent Debout, released a new album entitled "Funky Stuff in a Reggae Style" in 2001. It focuses particularly on the band’s new influences, half way between ska and early reggae rhythms. Yet it remains faithful to the band’s all time sources of inspiration such as Fela and James Brown, without forgetting Ravel.

March 2007