David Dalle
Thursday November 22nd, 2018 with David Dalle
Repeat of a great program with Hugh Masekela, Congolese masterpieces, Vieux Farka Toure, Omar Sosa and more
Today we will hear a few more pieces from Hugh Masekela, some terrific albums from last year with Cuban pianist Omar Sosa's collaboration with Senegalese kora player Sekou Keita, and Vieux Farka Touré's last album. Cuban music and percussion from the new album by Brenda Navarrete, a duet with pianists Hilario Duran and Chucho Valdés.
We will bookend the first set with two incredible Congolese masterpieces from the early 80's by Franco. The opening notes to this wonderful Franco compilation about the first song sums up so much of what makes his music brilliant and Franco an absolute musical giant:
| An electric guitar begins the album with a jaunty, instantly catchy motif. As it repeats, other guitars embellish the line. drums roll in and the high-hat cymbals strike up a light-footed beat. Four voices in close harmony take up the song, singing in an easy-on-the-ears African language. Almost two rollicking minutes pass before the bandleader strides to a microphone, hailed by trumpets. In contrast to the blended voices, Franco's is rough, but it calls attention to his words...Five and a half minutes into the song the singers start swivelling their hips and waving their arms. Franco turns to the other guitarists and with his nod they all entwine their strings--the bass, the rhythm, the lead and the intermediary mi-solo guitars--spinning a sonic skein around the propellant percussion. Around and under, over and again, they weave a shimmering pattern--a sebene-- that changes only slightly as it unfolds. The trumpets return, this time with saxophones at their side. Then the guitars repeat the sebene before the singers shimmy back to the mics for another verse and chorus...When the exhilaration lasts nearly 12 minutes, it's clear why this band is called Tout Puissant OK Jazz. |
| Tokoma ba camarade pamba Franco & le TPOK Jazz - Francophonic vol. 2 - Stern's |
| Up Township Hugh Masekela - Live At The Market Theatre - Four Quarters Entertainment |
| Alef Frank London's Shekhina Big Band - Scientist At Work - Tzadik |
| Fela Frank London's Shekhina Big Band - Scientist At Work - Tzadik |
| Black Dream Omar Sosa & Seckou Keita - Transparent Water - Ota Records |
| Fatiliku Omar Sosa & Seckou Keita - Transparent Water - Ota Records |
| Duo Influenciado Hilario Duran and Chucho Valdes - Contumbao - Alma Records 
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| Rumbero Como Yo Brenda Navarrete - Mi Mundo - Alma Records |
| Mariam Vieux Farka Toure feat. Idan Raichel - Samba - Six Degrees |
| Ba Kaitere Vieux Farka Toure - Samba - Six Degrees |
| Cooperation Franco & le TPOK Jazz - Francophonic vol. 2 - Stern's |
| Synapses/Alma Kirilgan Constantinople & Belem - Horizons Lointains - Ma Case
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| Radiance Kamancello - Kamancello - Independent
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| Marche/Gereh Constantinople & Belem - Horizons Lointains - Ma Case
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David, David, David. When will you play something upbeat and danceable. Not all this glum afro guitar stuff... ;^) Seriously though. Great backdrop to doing some boring paperwork I need to get to. Thanks!
3:11 PM, November 22nd, 2018