This was recorded by
Billy Youdelman on April 15th & 16th 1990 in Birkama, the Gambia.
Co-produced by bassist Bill Laswell & Gambian griot Foday Musa Suso, this
album delves into the West African roots that inspired their fusionary Mandingo
project. Ancient Heart features recordings of both of the Gambia's
two major ethnic groups, the Mandinka & Fulani. But while the 11 songs are
true to tradition, the approach is varied from the norm by recording the
musicians in ensembles rather than the usual solo setting. This ensemble
playing tends to raise the entire level on this extremely uplifting album,
featuring some truly amazing musicianship.
All the information you
might enjoy about the Mandinka & Fulani tribes, music, & musicians are
on the cd insert, & song information is on the back, both of which are included
in the sample, for those seriously interested. Other than that…
This is griot music like
featured in Mauritania as performed by
Malouma. But this griot, while steeped in the same musical traditions, has the
different flavor of the different groups. The Mandinka tracks are mostly kora
& some balafon, beautiful & transporting. The Fulani tracks are mid to
fast tempo, thick with percussion, featuring some raw fiddling & singing.
All in all, some most spiritual musick.
Mandinka & FulaniMusic of the Gambia – Ancient Heart, Axiom
314-510 148-2, 1991.
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Tracklist -
Hamaba
Nayo
Dangoma
Sanjon Bilama
Kumbusora
Nyanyer Song
Julajekereh
Galoyabeh
Lanbango
Borasabana
China
Product
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From the Gambia,
the Guelewars Band of Banjul
played their particular brand of the Afro-manding sound during a short period
in the late 1970s & early 1980s. Their sound features strong percussion, a
psychedelic tinge, prominent keyboards & saxophones. Guelewars Band play an
Afro-fusion, jazz, pysch, funk & manding musical cocktail sprinkled with Senegalese
sabar & tama percussions. This is fantastic music, but surprisingly enough,
not much has been reissued on CD. Not much is known about the group except that
the band leader, Laaye N'gom, was formerly with the Supreme Eagles which became later Super
Alligators. Also, the singer & composer is Moussa N'Gom. His music
is really singular. He later left to join Omar Pene's Super
Diamono before starting a solo career. His latest project is another band
called le Groupe Talibe.
Youssou N'Dour considers Guelewars Band as a main
inspirational influence, partly because of the use of lyrics in a noble wolof
language as opposed to "street" wolof, & partly because Guelewars
Band had resolutely moved forward from latin & highlife styles to an
explosive mix of soul & funk with Senegambian rhythms such as Boogaraboo
& Ndaga.
On Tasito, the Guelewars Band are: Laaye N’gom vocals,
keyboards, & piano; Moussa N’gom – lead vocals; Moussa Mbodji Njie –
guitar; Malick Njock Njie – bass; Bas Lo Fara Biram – alto saxophone; Laaye
Sallah – tenor saxophone; & Adu Sallah, Alive Badara Cham N’gom, & Koto
Sunu Icoto N’gom – percussion.
Guelewars Band of Banjul– Tasito, Productions Jambaar PJ – JM 5001, 1980.
decryption code in comments
Side 1 –
Tasito
Sonda
Wollou
Side 2 –
Djaraama
Kele Fasane
Enjoy,
NØ
Ancient Heart
ReplyDeleted8zNRC2tWYsQAi7JSfVFyEikvFkilfkpclEOmgl7QeM
Tasito
f1-xrUXmYxeIoQ71eSOICTlGDNJjWCwp7e3UDQiG5p4
beenl lookin for this, rhx bud. killer blog.
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