I love the Internet! Who doesn't? How awesome to see a glimpse of the environment of your correspondent when you have a conversation with him or her. In this case, I was talking to 'him', Rodolphe Salles, trumpet player of Les Fils De Teuhpu. One week ahead of their concert in Dubai for The Friday Fridge at Pyramids Rooftop Gardens at Wafi, it was great to be able to speak to Rodolphe. He asked me: "So, what's the weather like now in Dubai? Is it sunny?" I told him about the great blue sky, the sleeveless top I was wearing. Rodophe was relieved: "The sky is so dark and grey in Paris these days!".

Rodolphe is not a newcomer to the UAE though. He first came to Abu Dhabi and Dubai four years ago to play two gigs with another French band Boula Matari. He knows all about the weather here.

Les Fils De Teuhpu have been together for 14 years and have toured extensively. How did it start? With brass instruments. Back in 1997, Rodolphe met his fellow musicians when he joined Tarace Boulba, a Musicians' Association, well worth checking out. This association "offers musicians an opportunity to hone their craft, play on stage, and generally progress musically and contribute their talent to a collective vibe". Tarace Boulba had 60 members in 1993, they now have 1,000 members, all musicians! Later on, Rodolphe met the drums, bass and banjo players in a typical French café, 'Euro-Bar', in Menil Montant, Paris. They would meet there at night and would decide on their next busking spot.

They went on to play in bars and finally concert halls and music festivals. They now have 3 albums and a few EPs. Les Fils de Teuhpu play between 50 to 100 gigs a year and have already given 2,000 concerts in France alone since they started in 1998. Dubai is not their first concert abroad as they have played in the USA, Czech Republic, Hungary, Germany, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Netherlands. Is language a barrier in non-speaking French countries? Rodolphe claims that music is the most important way to communicate, lyrics are accessories. They always have fun communicating with their audience.

Half of the musicians have attended music schools and conservatories; the other half are self-taught. I am very intrigued with the bass player Bruno Le Bris though, as he learnt the double bass at a young age but is self-taught when it comes to sousaphone. What would motivate a double bass player to learn sousaphone? Would it be because of the massive size of this brass instrument, or because of its warm tone? I'm eager to ask him.

Actually, I find something really interesting about brass instruments. Trumpets, trombones and sousaphones are all brass instruments and you will hear them on The Friday Fridge stage this Friday. You'll also hear the saxophone as Benjamin Kurpisz will play it but the saxophone is not considered a brass instrument but rather a woodwind instrument although it is made of brass!

Back to our guests, did I mention that they will play in Abu Dhabi on the eve of their Dubai concert? There, they will be playing us Les Fils De Buster. Let me explain: 2 Buster Keaton silent movies will be screened and Les Fils De Buster will be playing the music and will be engaging with the films through their music. This show is a perfect match with the band's essence and humor. In their words, "When silent movies meet modern music".

By the way, why have they named their band 'Les Fils de Teuhpu"? As this question was often asked, the band offers different answers:

- They named their band after an old Indian divinity

- It's an aristocratic name

- "Ask your mother!"

As I wanted to be more precise, I asked Rodolphe: " Would brass ska be a good definition for your style?" " Too simplistic, but you know how to inform your audience" said Rodolphe, leaving me doubtful about my competence.

And music influences? Rodolphe sighed: " See the CDs behind me?" I nodded: 10 shelves full of CDs. "Well, I've got the same again in another corner of the room and the others have similar collections too. As you can see, our influences are vast and endless". I insisted, he grumbled: "It goes from Ennio Morricone to Charlie Mingus and Sex Pistols". Now I can't wait for the show!