Please enjoy this week's picks!
"Jiin Ma Jiin Ma" - Orchestra Baobab
This track is from the 2002 album Specialist in All Styles by Orchestra Baobab, a Senegalese Afro-Cuban band. The group formed in the 1970s and quickly won the hearts of music lovers. They broke up in the 1980s after being overshadowed by some of the other great bands of the time, but reformed in 2001. This particular performance is from Live 8 in Johannesburg, which was a series dedicated to ending poverty.
"Punjabi Wedding Song (Balle Balle)" - Red Baraat
Calling themselves 'dhol and brass', Bhangra funk, or Punjabi funk, Red Baraat has created a fresh, updated sound that has been compared to a cross between Bhangra and New Orleans jazz. The group fuses Bhangra rhythm and brass funk. Recognized as a band that can deliver a great performance in clubs, they have only just released their first album, Chaal Baby (2010) (an album I need to get my hands on!).
Showing posts with label Senegal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Senegal. Show all posts
Monday, 10 January 2011
Monday, 4 October 2010
This Week's Picks (#16)
I hope the following week's tracks will make up for the lack of posts this week. :) Please enjoy!
"Autorail" by Orchestra Baobab
Orchestra Baobab are a Senegalese Afro-Cuban band that formed in the seventies and epitimizes the sound of the genre. This track is from their 1993 album, Bamba, which features recordings from the 1980s. The band famously mixes Cuban rhythms with Wolof and Mandinka traditions from West Africa creating the smooth sounds you hear in the video.
"Walodhani No Mazaha (Those Who Thought it was a Joke)" by Mohamd Ilyas
Moving closer to my own research insterests, here's a piece from the spice island of Zanzibar. Mohamad Ilyas is taarab musician. Taarab is Zanzibar's biggest musical export, and is a genre of mixed styles and shows Arabic influences. While I spent time in Zanzibar studying other genres of music, it was impossible to avoid this beautiful music. It is easy to understand why so many people love taarab.
"Mast Qalandar" by Faiz Ali Faiz and Titi Robin
Pakistani qawwali singer Faiz Ali Faiz and French guitarist Titi Robin join forces in this album to create an inspiring fusion. This track is from the recently released album Jaadu (Magic). This track is fun and moving. The qawwali singers add an undeniable force to Titi's music and the creative sounds that come out of this partnership are simply wonderful.
"Autorail" by Orchestra Baobab
Orchestra Baobab are a Senegalese Afro-Cuban band that formed in the seventies and epitimizes the sound of the genre. This track is from their 1993 album, Bamba, which features recordings from the 1980s. The band famously mixes Cuban rhythms with Wolof and Mandinka traditions from West Africa creating the smooth sounds you hear in the video.
"Walodhani No Mazaha (Those Who Thought it was a Joke)" by Mohamd Ilyas
Moving closer to my own research insterests, here's a piece from the spice island of Zanzibar. Mohamad Ilyas is taarab musician. Taarab is Zanzibar's biggest musical export, and is a genre of mixed styles and shows Arabic influences. While I spent time in Zanzibar studying other genres of music, it was impossible to avoid this beautiful music. It is easy to understand why so many people love taarab.
"Mast Qalandar" by Faiz Ali Faiz and Titi Robin
Pakistani qawwali singer Faiz Ali Faiz and French guitarist Titi Robin join forces in this album to create an inspiring fusion. This track is from the recently released album Jaadu (Magic). This track is fun and moving. The qawwali singers add an undeniable force to Titi's music and the creative sounds that come out of this partnership are simply wonderful.
Wednesday, 15 September 2010
Wednesday's Reader Picks
Today's reader pick comes from Julia. Enjoy!
"Number 1 Bus" by Nuru Kane
I have to admit that I have also been a bit obbessed with this song recently as well. It's so catchy! Kane is a Senegalese songwriter who plays guitar and guimbri, a Moroccan three-stringed lute.
"Number 1 Bus" by Nuru Kane
I have to admit that I have also been a bit obbessed with this song recently as well. It's so catchy! Kane is a Senegalese songwriter who plays guitar and guimbri, a Moroccan three-stringed lute.
Monday, 26 July 2010
This Week's Picks (#9)
This week's picks are inspired by the WOMAD festival that took place this weekend in Wiltshire. WOMAD saw a fabulous line up of musicians and artists and by playing some of the music here I'm trying to convince myself that it is not the end of the world that I was not able to attend. I don't believe it's working.
"Je T'Aime" by Staff Benda Bilili
Staff Benda Bilili is a group of Congolese street musicians whose core members were disabled by polio. The core musicians are backed by a younger line-up of ex-street kids taken under the wings of the older musicians. The main soloist is an 18 year old boy who plays on a one string lute made of a tin can. This track "Je T'Aime" is from their debut album Tres Tres Fort (2009). The group is known for their rumba rhythms that back their eclectic sound.
(Reviewed by Alexandra)
"Lamp Fall" by Cheikh Lô
Cheikh Lô is often mistaken for a Rastafarian thanks to his dreadlocks and reggae influences. He is actually a member of the Senegalese sect of Islam, Baye Fall, which plays an important role in his music. The patchwork clothes and long dreadlocks are trademarks of Baye Fall. Cheikh Lô started playing drums at an early age and dedicates his music to Baye Fall. This is the title track from his 2005 album.
(Reviewed by Alexandra)
"Stória Stória" by Mayra Andrade
This artist may not have been one of the headliners of this festival, but she is one of the artists I really wished I had seen. Mayra Andrade is Cape Verdean, but hails from a varied background- born in Cuba, growing up in Senegal and Germany, and recording in France. This background is reflected in her music. While influenced by her exposure to the great musicians of Cape Verde, her style is a refreshing mix of all her influences. This is the title track from her 2009 album.
(Reviewed by Alexandra)
Were you lucky enough to see the WOMAD festival in Wiltshire? We would love to hear your stories and see your pictures. Please send us your experiences for a special post about WOMAD.
"Je T'Aime" by Staff Benda Bilili
Staff Benda Bilili is a group of Congolese street musicians whose core members were disabled by polio. The core musicians are backed by a younger line-up of ex-street kids taken under the wings of the older musicians. The main soloist is an 18 year old boy who plays on a one string lute made of a tin can. This track "Je T'Aime" is from their debut album Tres Tres Fort (2009). The group is known for their rumba rhythms that back their eclectic sound.
(Reviewed by Alexandra)
"Lamp Fall" by Cheikh Lô
Cheikh Lô is often mistaken for a Rastafarian thanks to his dreadlocks and reggae influences. He is actually a member of the Senegalese sect of Islam, Baye Fall, which plays an important role in his music. The patchwork clothes and long dreadlocks are trademarks of Baye Fall. Cheikh Lô started playing drums at an early age and dedicates his music to Baye Fall. This is the title track from his 2005 album.
(Reviewed by Alexandra)
"Stória Stória" by Mayra Andrade
This artist may not have been one of the headliners of this festival, but she is one of the artists I really wished I had seen. Mayra Andrade is Cape Verdean, but hails from a varied background- born in Cuba, growing up in Senegal and Germany, and recording in France. This background is reflected in her music. While influenced by her exposure to the great musicians of Cape Verde, her style is a refreshing mix of all her influences. This is the title track from her 2009 album.
(Reviewed by Alexandra)
Were you lucky enough to see the WOMAD festival in Wiltshire? We would love to hear your stories and see your pictures. Please send us your experiences for a special post about WOMAD.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)