Chino Odimba

January 2005 - African Soul Rebels, Bembeya Jazz National, Angelique Kidjo

Welcome! It's another year- and it's our first birthday.

• Establishment of African music
• African Soul Rebels
• Bembeya Jazz National
• Angelique Kidjo
• Kofi Ayivor - Rhythmology
• West country gigs
• Chino Odimba's Recommended CDs

Establishment of African music

Africa on your Street is now one year old. And before you can look forward to the future, you must always take time to look at the past and the present. What I call the 'Establishment' of African music. This month I have chosen those musicians that have made us dance aloud in the past, are still here giving us more - just check out the recommended CDs.

Nostalgia, romance, rose tinted, watery eyed dreams that is what it is all about. Time and time again, I try to explain my passion for African music. I try to explain that it without life would not be sweet, and our hearts not beat so fast.

It is not just about being African. It is about understanding that the music is just another way of telling the story. In the collection by Bembeya Jazz National, the track 'Mami Wati' is more than just words. It is memory of being a child hearing that story of beautiful mermaid like women who lure men and children in the underworld of the sea. It is memories of hoping I never see a 'Mami Wati'. It is memories that make the words come to life.

But before you lock yourself in the living room with these wonderful CDs, get yourself booked in for some live music in February and March.

African Soul Rebels

I hope you will agree that the West Country has hosted some of the best in African music in the last year. Good. Well 2005 only sees it getting better.

With the New Year barely ripe, the African Soul Rebels are coming to town.

Now what happens when three of today's brightest sparks in African music are scheduled to play on your doorstep? Okay okay it is not literally my doorstep - but it is close enough! Rachid Taha, Tinariwen and Daara J are what you would call the hot potatoes - or to be exact - the 'hot yams' of a new generation of African musicians. These three have brought new sounds, new perspectives and new audiences to the old ideas of African music.

Tinariwen from Mali, famously known for their contribution to The Festival of the Desert, stole the show as far as 2004 is concerned. (They've been nominated for a Radio 3 Award for World Music - you can read their profile on the Awards site). Senegal's Daara J has gained huge accolade amongst the younger listeners and buyers of music, and were winners of last year's Africa category. And Algeria's Rachid Taha, well if you haven't heard of him yet please educate yourself! (You can start by checking out the BBC Music review of his latest album). No words can describe was an occasion this will be - these guys are here to shake your belief in music.

They're on tour around the UK in February, including Bristol's Colston Hall on the 17th, so no excuses to miss them.

Bembeya Jazz National

Musicians come and go, bands are formed every day in someone's front room or town. And some of those will give us one good tune to dance to and then fade away. Others just keep on going. Bembeya Jazz National are one of those bands that don't seem to stop. And like the river from which they took their name from, Bembeya Jazz just flows. Originally formed in 1961, in Guinea, Bembeya jazz continued to actively play until the early 1990's. Do not try to imagine Guinean music without them - it would be like imagining Jollof without the rice!!! if you don't understand that - find your nearest African aunty to cook for you!

Their latest offering is a double CD with a collection of favourites, as well as rare recordings, from the 1960s and 1970s. Titled The Syliphone Years (Sterns Africa 2004), this celebratory album brings home the reasons why many still regard them as ambassadors of African music generally. My favourite will always be the very popular 'Mami Wati' - hear it to believe it.

Angelique Kidjo

Another staple of what has come to be known as World Music is the voice of Angelique Kidjo. Born in Benin, and of the Yoruba people, Kidjo is a part of the tide of African women finding their own voices internationally. Since her arrival on the music scene, Kidjo has been known for being adventurous with her music. This album really shows that sense of adventure at its best.

Inspired by a trip to Cuba, and the Caribbean in general, Oyaya! is both a personal trip and a philosophical moment. All the songs on the album whether it is 'Bala Bala' (translated as 'the essence of things' in Fon), or 'Adje Dada', this is well thought out album. This is what Kidjo does best - something new, something old, something borrowed, and something blue. This album was released in May 2004, but I really think it deserves a mention even now.

Kofi Ayivor - Rhythmology

A master drummer and percussionist, Kofi Ayivor is another heavyweight of African music. He was a founding member of the well known Ghanaian band 'Osibisa, and has made a name for himself amongst the giants of West African music, in particular Ghanaian music. In fact he was born in Nigeria, but an early fascination for music was his motivation towards what would become his adopted homeland. And since his entry into music at an early age Ayivor has been able to take Ghanaian music across continents, playing everything from the staple Highlife music of that region, to a more westernized Jazz and Reggae. Not only has he graced the stage with names such as the great E.T Mensah, Swedish Symphony Orchestra and Miles Davis, he in turn eventually became a producer. There is not a corner of the world his music has not touched, and we can finally say this is a true 'world' musician.

This album is a collection of the old and the new. Some of the tracks are previously unheard music composed by Kofi, whilst others simply celebrate the contribution that his musicianship has made to the world of music. Enjoy and remember - this is one of the legends of the past.

West country gigs

Here are some March 2005 dates for your diary:

A very popular name in these parts, Baka Beyond are coming back to the South west (19 March 2005 in Gloucester). Having spent the last year touring England and abroad, they still have enough energy to entertain us once more with their fusion of African and Celtic music. With no less than 10 years experience of 'world' music, it is no big challenge for the band to keep producing music that keeps us dancing. This a particularly special occasion as they will be showcasing a new music from their new album, alongside some of the more well known harmonies. Visit their site at www.baka.co.uk

In Bristol, check out Nass Marrakech on 17 March 2005. This is an ensemble with a difference! What unites them is North African, but what is divine in their music is the way in which strands of North African music, from Gnawa music to traditional Arabic vocal sounds are woven together so effortlessly. Instruments from across North and West Africa are the tools used to recreate the hypnotic rhythms and intensely powerful song traditions of this part of the world. A real one off show!

Enjoy the music, and do post your comments on anything you see or hear!

See you soon.

Chino

Chino Odimba's Recommended CDs

Bembeya Jazz National - The Syliphone Years

Angelique Kidjo - Oyaya

Kofi Ayivor - Rhythmology

Check out my recommended CDs this month in the CD Reviews section or go to Music Search to look at our archive of recommended CDs