An extraordinary CD. Her voice is smoother than ever. Nice mix of Cape Verdian music, Brazilian carnaval and some French traditional music. Cesaria is back with her brand new album "Rogamar". Recorded in Mindelo, São Vicente, Évora's hometown, and Paris (CaetanoVeloso arranger Jacques Morelenbaum added the strings in Rio de Janeiro), Rogamar is a lovely piece of work, with most of the 15 tracks written for her by her talented Cape Verdean songwriting team. The songs, as evidenced by the title of the album (which translates to "pray to the sea"), speak of love, loss, island life, and humankind within the context of the ocean."Rogamar" is her tenth album and if you are a fan of Cesaria you will find some songs very similar to older Cesaria songs... like you heard them somewhere before. But if you aren't a fan of Cesaria this album is a good way to start likeing her. But maybe not the best. I think Sao Vicente or Cafe Atlantico are her best albums; but also check out the Anthology.
Femi is the son of the legendary Nigerian Afro-Beat pioneer Fela Kuti. Femi is a worthy successor to his father and has added a new dimension to the polyrhythmic sound in which his father specialised. Born in London in 1962 he rose to fame when he appeared in place of his father at the Hollywood Bowl after Fela was arrested at Lagos airport on a dubious fraud charge. Femi delighted the audience with the strident saxophone style and self-assured stage presence.
Fight To Win Femi's strategy appears to be the courting of the Western market and connecting with the American black music scene. there are strong R&B, funk, and reggae undercurrents throughout the album. Femi grew up with both those strands, and the 12 compositions on Fight To Win deftly dovetail Fela's heritage with the best of new black music.
Salif Keita's career as a musician will always be coloured by the fact that he is a member of the Royal Family. It has never been easy for Salif Keita to explain the reason for his total break with tradition when he decide to become a musician. Perhaps it was something to do with the fact that he is an albinos, an outsider from the word go. He had originally planned to become a teacher but, because of difficulties finding a job, changed his mind. That a man from The Royal Family began as a musician in Mali in the 1960s, caused a storm of protest and Salif Keita was expelled from school. However, he formed a trio with his brothers and began to play on the streets and the nightclubs of Bamako, Mali's capitol.
An extraordinary CD. Her voice is smoother than ever. Nice mix of Cape Verdian music, Brazilian carnaval and some French traditional music. Cesaria is back with her brand new album "Rogamar". Recorded in Mindelo, São Vicente, Évora's hometown, and Paris (Caetano
Femi is the son of the legendary Nigerian Afro-Beat pioneer Fela Kuti. Femi is a worthy successor to his father and has added a new dimension to the polyrhythmic sound in which his father specialised. Born in London in 1962 he rose to fame when he appeared in place of his father at the Hollywood Bowl after Fela was arrested at Lagos airport on a dubious fraud charge. Femi delighted the audience with the strident saxophone style and self-assured stage presence.
Salif Keita's career as a musician will always be coloured by the fact that he is a member of the Royal Family. It has never been easy for Salif Keita to explain the reason for his total break with tradition when he decide to become a musician. Perhaps it was something to do with the fact that he is an albinos, an outsider from the word go. He had originally planned to become a teacher but, because of difficulties finding a job, changed his mind. That a man from The Royal Family began as a musician in Mali in the 1960s, caused a storm of protest and Salif Keita was expelled from school. However, he formed a trio with his brothers and began to play on the streets and the nightclubs of Bamako, Mali's capitol.