Customer Reviews

Kassa

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I lived in West Africa for a few years and I used to hear this fellow's recordings all the time. He is without doubt one of the most popular musicians in the Mande region (Guinea, Mali, Cote d'Ivoire) and gets tons of airplay over there--at least as much as Salif Keita, and lots more than Ali Farka Toure. You can't ride a bus or walk through a crowded market without hearing one of his tunes eventually.

I really like Sekouba "Bambino" Diabate's songs. The slow, cool ones like "Na Soumbou" and "An Nya Deme" are a smooth blend of Bambino's Malinke vocals with modern instrumentation. For sheer griot intensity, on the other hand, listen to "Diommaya," his duet with Malian diva Kandia Kouyate. The arrangement on that track is 100 percent African instruments--ngoni, kora, balafon, and bolon, without so much as an acoustic guitar in the mix; yet I can only describe the song as absolutely electrifying. Bambino's got quite a voice.

Some American listeners find his sound too "western," since he often uses drum machines and horn sections. This is ironic given that his popularity in West Africa is greater than that of many of the more "authentic" regional artists. So what is African music? Traditional or modern? Acoustic or electric? Bambino shows that it can be all of the above.

(By the way: this guy should NOT be confused with guitarist Sekouba "Bembeya" Diabate, an older and somewhat less popular figure; both used to be members of Bembeya Jazz, hence the nicknames used to distinguish them.)

Modern Guinean music from West Africa is one of the treasures of world music. It's not as well known outside Africa as Congolese music but it's just as danceable and melodically even richer. Diabate started out as a vocalist with the legendary Guinean state sponsored orchestra Bembeya Jazz. When government funding for Bembeya Jazz dried up in the 1980s, Diabate went solo. Since then he has become one of the most popular and influential singers in West Africa. "Kassa" represents one of his greatest achievements to date. A singer of great range, depth and vocal purity, Diabate is one of the most gifted "electronic griots" of the present age. Give him a listen and let one of the great vocal instruments in all music today take you on a jouney through the glories of Mande music.

It's a shame "Bambino" doesn't get the recognition he deserves in the USA. I know he has some real fans here, but he is largely underappreciated.

As far as this CD is concerned, the reviewers "otserick" and "rudiger" are right on. As Graeme Ewens says in the liner notes, "His mélange of musical styles ranges from crisp, bright, pan African pop to solid, funky interpretations of classical folklore pieces, with some mellow acoustic moments"

I'll add that the other musicians on this CD are also extremely talented, many also Griot musicians who have released CDs of their own....(Sekou Bembeya, Kandia Kouyate, Djanka Diabate, Mama Keita, Constance "Coco" Mbassi, Abdoulaye Diabate, Moriba Koita, Lansana Kouyate, Djeli Moussa Kouyate, Ibrahima Soumano...and more!)

Did I mention "Bambino's" vocals are just awesome?

I can also tell you I've had this CD since it was released in the US about 9 years ago...Loved it then, and I'm still finding things to love about it.

Finally, I love what Sekouba "Bambino" says in his acknowledgements...."To all, sincere thanks. May peace triumph in our hearts!"

Thank you "Bambino".

This recording is of Sékouba Bambino, a fine young singer. He has somehow been confused with Sékou Bembeye Diabate, also known as Diamond Fingers, who does happen to play a little bit of guitar on this CD, and was also a member of Bembeya Jazz with Sékouba Bambino. Perhaps the name similarity is why there is some confusion? Nevertheless, while some of the production on this CD is synth-laden and perhaps too Euro for some, the singing is very good, and spirit is correct. And some later tracks are rootsy and more vital. Have a listen to the sound files and see what you think. I bought it on the basis of these files and have enjoyed it, even if my hero, Diamond Fingers, is not the headliner.