Apr 5/05
Fireworks and live music
I had a great Senegalese independence day weekend. Parties and dinners with friends, sifting through massive street markets, line fishing in a pirogue, relaxing with K, and two really great concerts. I had the privilege to see both Orchestre Baobab and Bembeya Jazz in one weekend!
I love how each member of Orchestre Baobab has a completely distinct personality, and their play these days is super-tight. The crowd really got into the music despite the Just4You jazz club setting. Bembeya, though not as charismatic as Baobab, were musically amazing and by the end of their set were really rocking out. Some of those guys must be pushing 70 or 80 now but it didn’t show at 2am – by the end of their show they were ripping it up for those who stayed late. Sekou Diabate is an incredible guitarist and when he lays into those soukous riffs it sounds amazing.
I’ve posted music from both of these groups already, but the shows 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 their classic early 80s album, Bamba. They did a good version of this song the other night. The Bembeya track is off a 2000 re-issue of Hommage à Demba Camara.
ps- Three more reposts today: Stella Chiweshe, Gyedu-Blay Ambolley and Franco & Rochereau. I won’t be doing reposts very often and they’ll only be up for a week, so get your requests in now!
Orchestre Baobab – Autorail
Bembeya Jazz National – Beni Barale
always, my favorite mp3 blog. the stella track, in particular, is one of the more beautiful things I’ve heard in a while. thank you.
cool stuff. dont 4get my other reposts!
Pitchfork Mangles Afrobeat
Many talk on this thread as if information about great African music is easily available. It is not.
Benn loxo du taccu
Now it is.
Franco: S/D
Benn loxo has been posting some of his stuff, and it definitely stands out from the crowd – I need to hear more. Songs I’ve heard and rate: “Likambo Ya Ngana”, “Cooperation”, “Lisanga Ya Ba Nganga”.
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