Nicolas Vatomanga  Nicolas Vatomanga Andrianaivo Rakotovao (born 24 September 1975), known as Nicolas Vatomanga is a Malagasy saxophonist, flutist, bandleader and composer. His music combines elements of jazz, blues and traditional musics of Madagascar, including: the hira gasy of the Centre, the beko from the South and the salegy from the North of the Great Island. He is also recognized as one of the heirs of the malagsy flute sodina tradition and of its last great master: Rakoto Frah (Philibert Rabezoza Rakoto). Nicolas Vatomanga has played and/or recorded in Europe, Africa (Senegal and Madagascar), as well as in the United States with: Miriam Makeba, Rakoto Frah, Paco Sery, Eric Le Lann, Regis Gizavo, Solorazaf, Lionel Loueke, Mokhtar Samba, Tony Rabeson, Serge Rahoerson, Linley Marthe, Idrissa Diop, Hanitra Ranaivo, Silo Andrianandraina and Jaojoby Eusèbe. He was invited by Joe Zawinul to play at his concert at the Parc Floral Paris 2002, but he could not honour the invitation. Since 2004, he has lived and performed in Madagascar, where he created the "Vatomanga Band" which appeared for the first time in quartet form during the Madajazzcar Festival 2005 and gradually enlarged to a septet after 2010. In 2011, the band took the name MadaJazz. Vatomanga started with classical music at age four at the National Center for Music education (CNEM) in Antananarivo, Madagascar. He was taught by Mrs Alisera and Seta Ramaroson Andrianary (flutist, saxophonist and composer), both renowned teachers there. Choosing the flute as his first instrument, Vatomanga continued training with Seta at the Cercle Germano-Malagasy (CGM) of Antananarivo. A precocious child, he composed for piano at age eight and played frequently in classical concerts (NCCM, CGM) from age ten. His mother, he claimed, had a great influence on his tastes and his passion for music: classical music, blues, gospel and traditional Malagasy music (such as the hira gasy, the Kalon'ny Fahiny, Ny Antsaly, Rakotozafy and Rakoto Frah in particular); she learned to play valiha (the Malagasy bamboo zither) when he started on flute.