Based in Bordeaux, France, the Shaolin Temple Defenders, led by Lion Of Bordeaux, (Emmanuel Guérin-Ponjouanine, vocals) are loyal to the American funk and soul tradition of the 1960s and 70s. Their debut album, Chapter 1: Enter the Temple (2006), is reminiscent of The Meters and Stax label artists, such as Otis Redding. In 2007 they met Martha High, a long-time back-up singer with James Brown, now settled in France, and began touring with her in Europe and abroad. After playing the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal and the Olympia in Paris, their collaboration culminated in the live album W.O.M.A.N. (2008). Take It Slow followed two years later on Soul Beats Records.