New Music From Africando on Calabash Music

Ketukuba

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 04:27:54 -0600

Africando, the Afro-Salsa supergroup is back. Fourteen years after the historic first meeting of the best singers from Senegal and the best Latin musicians in New York, "Ketukuba" , their seventh album is ready. The thrill you felt when you first heard Africando is still there!

"Ketukuba" is a tribute to the late Gnonnas Pedro, Benin's favourite son, who sang with Africando from 1996 until his death in 2004. The title song, was his last recording.

Medoune Diallo, who earned his reputation with Orchestre Baobab before casting his lot with the nascent Africando in 1992, sings a duet with his son, Lodia Mansour, a rising star in Senegal today.

This album also introduces two other young but already seasoned Senegalese singers to Africando's worldwide fans: Pascal Dieng of Super Cayor and Basse Sarr of Orchestre Afro-Salsa de Dakar.

Africando stalwarts Amadou Ballake and Sekouba Bambino are in top form.

American salsero Joe King gives a rendition of "Nina Nina" that may well become the definitive version of the Fania All-Stars classic.

Congolese star Madilu System joins Africando for a sparkling Latinate version of "Mario", the landmark hit he originally recorded with Franco's T.P.O.K. Jazz in 1985. And he sings it even better now!

Nelson Hernandez, who has worked with Kekele as well as with Celia Cruz, Oscar D'Leon and many other Latin stars, wrote arrangements that allow such top-tier musicians as pianist Junito Davila, trumpeter Gazo Jaime and percussionists Roberto and Luis Quintero to shine.

As always, producer Ibrahima Sylla brings extraordinary talents together and elicits brilliant performances from them.

Mandali

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 04:27:54 -0600

The Africando All Stars on this album include such luminaries as Salif Keita, Sekouba Bambino, Koffi Olomide, Medoune Diallo, Lokua Kanza, Gnonnas Pedro, Hector Casanova, Thione Seck, Amadou Balake, Ronnie Baro and Shoubou. WOW!

Africando, Vol. 2: Tierra Tradicional

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 04:27:54 -0600

Followup to the sessions that produced Trovador. Just as hot and spicy, no leftovers here!

Vol 1: Trovador

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 04:27:54 -0600

Salsa has its roots in Africa, but modern Afro-pop has its roots in salsa, and when the two styles meet, the reaction is explosive. On Africando Vol 1: Trovador, three of Senegal's greatest singers collaborate with a group of New York's finest Latin musicians to create dance-floor ecstasy - salsa that swings with a delectable West African lilt to an irresistable Cuban beat.
Vocalists Medoune Diallo, Pape Seck and Nicholas Menheim belt salsa standards and originals in Spanish and Wolof, adding their own brad of Senegalese spice, as musicians like flautist Eddie Zervigon, saxophonist Jose Chombo Silva, trumpeter hector Bomberito Zarzuela and conga player Papo Pepin supply Carribean soul.
VIVA AFRICANDO!

Baloba!

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 04:27:54 -0600

Africando's 4th album delves deeper into Afro-Carribean music's rich history, and include appearances by the Senegalese veteran Laba Sosseh and Guinean superstar Sekouba Bambino Diabate. Here Africando revives the classic Cuban sexteto tipico sound of the 1920s and 30s.

MARTINA

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 04:27:54 -0600

On "Martina", Africando have drafted in a raft of the continents top vocal talent to sing the praises of their mothers, sisters, wives and girlfriends - hymning not just their beauty and elegance, but the nurturing, sustaining strength that keeps Africa going.

Gombo Salsa

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 04:27:54 -0600

On Gombo Salsa, Africando moves into even higher and hotter musical territory. The band continues to polish its radiant mixture of classic mambos, sons, boleros, and cha-chas