Aug 21/06
Tom Waits in Guinea
I admit to knowing nothing about Guinean musician, Moma Wandel Soumah, until about 48 hours ago. I picked-up his album, Afro Swing, at random since I liked the look of the cover. Who knew it would end up being an amazing album by one of Africa’s greatest sax players, with super-original tunes and vocals that sound like Tom Waits on Rain Dogs? I love when that happens.
Unfortunately I’ll never get a chance to hear Soumah live; he passed away in 2003 at the age of 77. Unlike many great African musicians, however, Soumah did achieve international recognition and put down a few good recordings before he died. In the early 1990s the French radio station, RTI, mobilised to get some of his music recorded in Paris. The result was the album Matchowé on Buda, one that I’ll surely be buying this week if I can find a copy.
He released Afro Swing in 2001, his only album to achieve widespread success outside of Africa and Europe. It led to his nomination in 2002 for the BBC World Music Listeners Award.
Momo Wandel Soumah – Félenko Yéfé
Momo Wandel Soumah – Toko
Nice.
Superb
Your comparison of Momo Wandel Soumah to Tom Waits is perfect! Any idea how to obtain either of his cds? I’d like more of this music but can’t find it anywhere. I hope you can help.
Jan, for albums that are out of print I’m always willing to make a trade. Feel free to get in touch. -Matt
I think of him more as a Louis Armstrong, myself – he’s fantastic though! I first heard him on the splendid Desert Blues compilations on Network, which I highly recommend if you ain’t got ‘em. I’ve been trying to get hold of Matchowé for about a year without success, though – it’s long out of print (is that the right term with music?). Please let me know if you find somewhere that has it, as I really, really want it!! Thanks!
Looks like you can get Matchowé used from a fellow Canadian on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.ca/gp/offer-listing/B000001NA4/ref=dp_olp_2/701-6296339-4357159?condition=all
Thanks for the tip-off, Matt! I’ll let you know when it arrives, and if you’ve not found a copy yourself by then I’ll burn it for you. Or something.
Any luck with Matchowé? My university library has a copy.
Didn’t find one, no. Any chance we could arrange for a trade?
Any body got a copy of Matchowe, like some of you I have just discovered this great musician, Awesome!!
Has any one followed the thread and found similar musicians?
L+R, Jerry
[...] Many of you wrote comments and e-mails praising the music from August 21st post on Momo Wandel Soumah. Thanks to several offers, I got my hands on a copy of his 1990 release, Matchowé. [...]