Oct 14/04
Tropics and snow
I watched the debate last night because I get to vote in this year’s US election thanks to a brief stint in Michigan from the age of 0-3. The debate left me feeling better about Kerry but quite sour about American politics in general.
So in honour of my home and greater land, Canada, I thought I’d post a track by a Canadian-Guinean today. The choice is especially appropriate this week since Canada recently decided to completely forgive debts owed by the world’s poorest nations, many of them in West Africa.
Alpha Yaya Diallo was born in Guinea-Conakry but now lives in the land of rain and Starbucks, Vancouver. While still in Guinea he played with the popular Bembeya Jazz National band. Before moving to Canada he spent some time in Amsterdam where he joined Fatala on Peter Gabriel’s Real World label.
Diallo’s guitar playing is great and despite his deep-rooted Western influences he still manages to produce a music distinctly and authentically West African. And in a distinctly and authentically Canadian way this new resident was awarded the country’s highest musical honour, a Juno, for his album The Message in 1999.
Here’s a track from that album. I’ve also included a track today by Diallo’s old group, the Bembeya Jazz National, that I particularly like.
Alpha Yaya Diallo – Badenma
Bembeya Jazz National – Mami Wata
[...] bino” Diabate got his name because he started singing with the famous Guinean group, Bembeya Jazz National, at the tender age of 17. This was a group of old guys by th [...]
(general) — Thank you so much for this blog! Your writing is excellent in helping people learn about the many different styles of African music, and your track selection is top-notch. The majority of my listening these days is blogtracks — every one you post is a “keeper!”
hello.
thank you again for your fabulous blog. i look forward to your posts every single day.
thank you for being interested in american politics.
we need every vote we can get this time. just like we needed it last time, but we didn’t know until too late.
i’m listening at the moment to a cheeky post riffing on the late rick james, titled “George W. Pussy”. sometimes it’s just good to hear dissent. you can find it on my brother’s blog, tofuhut, which it pleases me that you link to.
have a fabulous day.
and thanks again and again for the beautiful music!
Great choices, as always. It’s always a pleasure to see what you’ve put up.
Thank you! Chinese Apes.
[...] ws were so great I feel that I have to put up some more. Read the original posts here and here, and then pick up some new music below. The Orchestre Baobab track is off the [...]
[...] I’ve written about Guinean music quite a lot on this site, but I’ve never posted any Balla et ses Balladins. [...]
[...] And Michael sends us a album cover rarity, along with a request for some Tropics and Snow, plus some Fireworks to go with the music. [...]
[...] musicians and several well-known West African musicians, including members of Kékélé and Bembeya Jazz, Diblo Dibala, Rigo Star and others. Wow, that first [...]