Let’s ease into February with some instrumental music…

Diely Moussa Kouyaté is a Guinean guitarist most famous for his work with Salif Keita. He’s also recorded with Mama Sissoko, Kante Manfila, Souad Massi and other big name African artists.

He’s one of those musicians who quietly holds it down in the background, strumming beautiful melodies in the shadows on stage. You can hear some nice examples of his playing on Keita’s latest album, M’Bemba.

It was a great pleasure to discover that he has a 2002 solo release entitled Sebe Alaye. I came across it quite by accident at a Paris médiathèque. If you want to hear more you can grab a copy at the Fnac.

Diely Moussa Kouyate - Bamananke

Today we take a short break from my North African series and listen to a guest post from Benn loxo listener and fellow Parisian, Henri.

“Coronthie is a large working class district in Guinea’s capital, Conakry. A mightily crowded place it sure seems to be: population density there is the same as that of central Paris, for instance, although buildings tend to be built in mud and are only one story high, instead of a typical six or seven in Paris. The name of the place comes from the Portuguese word for “quarantine”, since it originally harboured Conakry’s lazaret.

From there comes a bunch of young guys (one of them is barely 13) playing traditional instruments but not the traditional way. Guinean music tends to be high-tempo and slightly harsh. These guys exude a delightful laid-back feeling; their stuff is mellow, elegant yet complex acoustic African folk.

They have been incredibly successful at home over the last two years and their last CD sold more than 70,000 copies - not bad for a small, rural country of less than 10 million people. Unfortunately, their records seem to be totally unavailable on the world market - but rejoice! they have a Myspace (in French) and will be touring Europe during the Spring of 2007.”

Thanks for the great music, Henri. Does anyone else have any suggestions for African groups on MySpace?

Les Espoirs de Coronthie - Dunuya iguiri
Les Espoirs de Coronthie - Grand GN
Les Espoirs de Coronthie - Khata remix

Quick post today from the golden age of West African salsa. Guinean salsero, Amara Touré, was part of a group of pre-independence salsa pioneers in Guinea and Senegal. Touré along with others like Laba Sosseh and the Star Band de Dakar kickstarted a West African salsa musical movement that enjoyed widespread success until the 1980s.

There are still a few good salsa bars in Dakar and elsewhere around West Africa. I squeezed in a dirty whisky salsa night in Dakar a few weeks back, though there wasn’t as much dancing as times past. Regardless, that particular house band has improved a lot since I last saw them. In other words, they weren’t just performing Guantanamera on repeat all night.

I wonder what would happen in Paris if, after a particularly good saxophone solo, I went up to the musician and shoved a 5000 CFA note in his suit?

Amara Touré - Cuando Llegare
Star Band de Dakar - Caramelo

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.

The whole album is fantastic. Wandel’s West African-infused jazz sextet handles the fusion of musical styles perfectly, and his strange but lovely voice ties it all together. Among others, their cover of John Coltrane’s Afro Blue and the first recording of the song I featured last time, Toko, are gems.

I have a million things to do today so I can’t say much more, but if you’re curious about Wandel or his music check-out this article over at Afropop.

Momo Wandel Soumah - Bokme
Momo Wandel Soumah - Afro Blue
Momo Wandel Soumah - Toko

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

What a weekend. Dressed-up horse races at Longchamp, young French dance parties, Swedish hip-hop découverts and of course Saturday night.

Hats off to Paris, France, for its Nuit Blanche. I’ve had a lot of really great nights over the last few years, but this past Saturday was one I won’t forget for a very long time. Part luck, part bicycle, part good company; this year’s Nuit Blanche ended up being an incredible affair marked by dozens of random experiences, dancing, music and obscure, strange encounters.

I found my way back to my bed sometime near 8am as the sun was rising, 9 hours and many, many kilometers later. Highlights include 6am rest sessions in Sacré Coeur surrounded by 300 live guitarists; scream-infused video golf in the 20th; underground laser lights and yelling public in the 12th; fashion shows and staggering absinthe shots (complete with manifestations) around Belleville; fire-extinguisher touting androgenous circus people mixed with giant giraffe engagements and live camel chill-out sessions way-out near Vincennes. Truly wonderful.

So I think that a much needed night-off Monday needs some relaxing West African 1960s danceband music to take the edge off, yeah?

I’ve written about Guinean music quite a lot on this site, but I’ve never posted any Balla et ses Balladins.

Around independence in 1959-60, Guinea-Conakry’s leaders wanted to promote local culture as a way of creating a new national identity. Several “national” bands were set-up, some official and others not. The state-sponsored Syli Orchestre National de Guinée produced two great bands, Balla et ses Balladins and Keletigui and his Tambourinis, after its split in 1959. This was the golden era of Guinean dance-band music. The most popular band to emerge out of this era was probably Bembeya Jazz National, who formed around in 1961 much under the influence of Balla and others.

Balla et ses Balladins are definitely worth a listen. Their occasional mid-tune guitar break-outs are what I like best. Here are three tracks from three different Syliphone albums to help your Monday go alright.

Balla et ses Balladins - Banbo
Balla et ses Balladins - Mana Mana
Balla et ses Balladins - Kaira

Readers of this site will know that I have a soft-spot for afro-cuban salsa (and the sweaty, whisky-tinged nights that I associate with it.) Many a long workday has been made right by an evening of salsa, either on the stereo or the dancefloor.

The rhythm brings back memories of the ever-lovely K in a sundress, Ed striking a culturally shocking breakdance move, and of out of tune bands at Fouquets, Hotel de la Poste and various nightspots in Dieupeul and Castor. Ah, Dakar, tu me manques.

Today I’m yet again working late, watching the sun cheekily set outside my office window. Let’s turn to Djeli Moussa Diawara for salvation, yeah?

Diawara is a Guinean kora player who used to play in the Rail band during the 1970s and later recorded some stuff with Mory Kanté. Does this guy have any solo albums? None that I have/could find, so please educate me in the comments if he does.

I grabbed today’s track off an easy to find (to offset all the recent rather obscure posts) and well put together compilation, Salsa Africa. The album is worth buying, especially if you don’t already have a copy Bantous De La Capitale’s El Coco.

Djeli Moussa Diawara - Salda Hora

I know I promised something off the latest Amadou & Mariam album, but for whatever reason I’m just not in the mood.

Instead let’s listen to some Guinean afro-funk, Kaloum Star. The group was formed over 30 years ago by Mamadou Barry, but they didn’t get around to releasing an album until 1997. As far as I know this album, Felenko, is their only release.

It’s Friday and definitely time to get out of the office. I’m hopefully seeing Konomo No. 1 tomorrow so expect stories and music from that Monday.

Enjoy the sounds and have a good weekend.

Kaloum Star - Sarali

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

Well, I’m in the Paris CDG departure lounge at the moment. I’m wildly bored since I’ve been traveling and/or arguing with airport officials for about 1.5 days. Before boarding my final flight to the 3rd continent of my journey I thought I’d do a quick post.

I’m on airport wi-fi and without much music at the moment, but I noticed I left a Kante Manfila track on my laptop drive. This song is nicely soothing for my tired ears. Good for a Sunday, too. (It is Sunday, right?)

In short, Kante Manfila is a Mandingo from Guinea who strums a nice acoustic guitar. He used to play in Les Ambasadeurs with Mory Kanté and Salif Keita. Buy his music here.

ps- the picture on today’s post is one I took while flying an ultralight over sand dunes in Namibia. Anyone have any Namibian music they’d like to share?

Kante Manfila - Agne Anko

I’m pretty sure that Kouyaté Sory Kandia is actually a Malinké-speaking Mandingo, not Fulani, but I couldn’t resist the title to this post. Basically while listening to West African salsa yesterday I brushed past a couple tracks that struck me as being perfect for a Quentin Tarrantino soundtrack.

The first track is by Sory Kandia Kouyaté (Kouyaté is his family name, but you can write his name Kouyaté Sory Kandia), a well-known vocalist in his day from Guinea-Conakry. I got it off his album Grand Prix du Disc 1970 that was re-released a few years ago. The song makes makes me think of Uma Thurman walking in slow-motion into a country Western bar somewhere in the back alleys of Conakry while pulling on an extra-long cigarette. On top of that image, the song itself is fun and Kouyaté’s singing is over-the-top wonderful.

Second we got a slow jam classic by “we are world music” Orchestra Baobab. They may be wildly popular but they’re still amazing. If you ever get to see them live keep your eye on the sax player - his facial expressions and posturing on stage are priceless. He’s a classic Senegalese “grand homme”. Either way, their song Werente Serigne, available on the re-released Pirates Choice, could easily fit into some retro-heroin American movie à la Tarrantino.

Kouyaté Sory Kandia - NNa
Orchestre Baobab - Werente Serigne

Sekouba “Bambino” 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 the mid-1970s and he was the nouveau talent, ie the little brat that the old-school members would make fun of. 30 years have passed and he’s still known as the baby/Bambino.

His last album, Sinikan, got a lot of attention, both in Africa and abroad. Well produced thanks to the studio work of some of Salif Keita’s team and well advertised/distributed, Sinikan was seen as an album that could finally get Guinean music on the map in Western markets. I’m not actually sure how well it sold abroad but regardless Sekouba is now well-known and seems set to rise in popularity.

He has that new-sound West Africa meets traditional and yet he stays true to his Mandingo/Guinean musical roots. While he’s a little heavy on the synth drums and casio sounds at times, his voice, the great chanting backup vocals and wonderful percussion more than save the music.

Here’s my favourite track off Sinikan (and no, it’s not “Fatou”) plus another tune from an earlier album that caught my ear on the Guinea Vibrations compilation.

And hey, since we now have some bandwidth to spare I’ll throw up another track off that compilation: some catchy Guinean dance music by another good traditional mandingo + pop fusion musician, Baba Djan. It’s Hallowe’en and I get the day-off tomorrow so may as well have something to move to tonight.

Sekouba Bambino - Gnangnini
Sekouba Bambino - Acanadia
Baba Djan - Kankan

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