N'Wolof [Live]

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These recordings from 1970 and 1971 are revealing. They were born in the early days of Africanisation in Dakar, Senegal, when French still ruled the language and the culture. This music is defiantly African, rooted in the ancient traditions of the Wolof language and the ancient kingdoms of the region, but also modern, urban, and somewhat revolutionary for its time. Led by singer Laye M'Boup, and featuring notables like Thione Seck and Medioune Diallo, the group has a heavily Latin sound featuring jazz- and blues-inspired horn charts, African vocal lines, and--for the time--some of the most outside guitar licks this side of Jimi Hendrix. Recorded in live sessions (without an audience) in the Baobab club in Dakar, the pieces run the gamut from rumba-driven dance tunes to some of the weirdest, underwater-sounding soul psychedelia ever to emerge from Africa. It may have taken these recordings almost three decades to reach a wider audience, but they are destined to be remembered as classics of African's golden age of pop. --Louis Gibson

Tracks:

Yama Done Xol
Aida Baoury
Lat Dior
Cheri Takama
N'Diaye
Aduna Jarul Naawo
Senegal Sunugal
Yaraf
Core Coumba Fall
Lamine Gueye
Aida Baoury (Version)

Amazon.com

These recordings from 1970 and 1971 are revealing. They were born in the early days of Africanisation in Dakar, Senegal, when French still ruled the language and the culture. This music is defiantly African, rooted in the ancient traditions of the Wolof language and the ancient kingdoms of the region, but also modern, urban, and somewhat revolutionary for its time. Led by singer Laye M'Boup, and featuring notables like Thione Seck and Medioune Diallo, the group has a heavily Latin sound featuring jazz- and blues-inspired horn charts, African vocal lines, and--for the time--some of the most outside guitar licks this side of Jimi Hendrix. Recorded in live sessions (without an audience) in the Baobab club in Dakar, the pieces run the gamut from rumba-driven dance tunes to some of the weirdest, underwater-sounding soul psychedelia ever to emerge from Africa. It may have taken these recordings almost three decades to reach a wider audience, but they are destined to be remembered as classics of African's golden age of pop. --Louis Gibson

Customer Reviews:

Roots.......2003-03-18

This album is amazing. This album shows why they have titled their most recent album "Speicalists in All Styles." There is still the Cuban sound in there somewhere, but it sounds more like something produced by lee perry. Their use of delay on the guitar is so innocent and amazing. Its a rough recording, but that makes it better once you get used to it. Track 3 and track 6 are unbeivable and worth the $... bucks right there. I love thier other stuff, but I cannot explain to you how cool this album is. It's for a hot summer night to just feel happy.

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Early Senegalese grooves, played live in the old days..........2001-12-14

These live recordings from 1970-71 capture Orchestre Baobab playing at the very venue in Senegal that they took their name from. The sound quality is slightly rougher than their later studio albums, but the songs are great nonetheless -- these guys were an impressive ensemble! The raggedy vocals, sung in the urban Wolof dialect, may be too shrill for some listeners, but the musical grooves are quite nice. On a couple of tracks, the guitars go wild, soaring into psychedelic heights; mostly, though, this is mellow, beautiful material. I'd recommend their studio work first, but this ain't bad.

Baobab N'Wolof.......2000-06-10

If you miss the sounds of the Theis markets, a neighborhood baptism or afternoons sipping tea with your Senegalese friends, this is the CD for you. It will take you back to the sights and sounds of Senegal. Filled with traditional Wolof music it is an excellent choice.