Orchestra Baobab
Tribute To Ndiouga Dieng LP

When Orchestra Baobab's album Specialist in All Styles had the double roll-out with World Circuit and Nonesuch in 2002, designed to promote their old archived albums, the band produced a dancing wave of Afro-Cuban son, rumba, and West African beats, with guest Ibrahim Ferrer, on American shores, and I was fortunate to see them during their West Coast tour the following year. Ten years after the last recording, they have come together again in another, mainly Senegalese take of familiar Cuban and West African rhythms from Senegal to Guinea in a more varied album. The band has done this before, having been founded as a house band of a Dakar club (1970-1987). Tribute to Ndiouga Dieng, this "Reunion.2" album, honors the group's original vocalist. New is the kora of Abdouleye Cissoko (who has a solo track, Mariama; guest Cheikh Lô also contributes a track. The expected saxophones, electric rhythm and bass guitars, and swaying percussion of timbales and conga with the plucked soprano strings of the kora give a rich harmonic flow. Cheerful, comfortable, sweet, the music once more takes us to the dance floor. Only 42 minutes but worth every second.

NEW / Released in 2017

Tracklist:

A1 Foulo

A2 Fayinkounko

A3 Natalia

A4 Magnokouto

A5 Mariama

B1 Woulinewa

B2 Sey

B3 Caravana

B4 Douga

B5 Alekouma