Customer Reviews

Mandali

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

Since the middle of the 1990s, trans-Atlantic salsa sensation Africando has been putting the "Afro" back in Afro-Cuban music. A combination of Cuban instrumentalists and African vocalists, Africando draws from the wealth of rhumba, salsa and other polyrhythmic Latin styles while adding its own distinctly African touch. "Mandali" is the group's latest and possibly best recording.

What makes "Mandali" stand out from the band's previous efforts is the broad cross-section of African vocal talent that appears on the recording. Gnonnas Pedro of Benin, Thione Seck of Senegal, Eugene Shoubou of Haiti, and Ronnie Baro of Cuba all appear on this album as they have on earlier ones. The golden-voiced Guinean Sekouba "Bambino" Diabate, whose passion for salsa has led him to several earlier collaborations with Africando, again graces two tracks here.

Of special note, however, are contributions by "newcomers"--though they are actually veterans. Malian singer Salif Keita and Congolese singer Koffi Olomide, arguably the two biggest names in African pop music today, each contribute a song, as does Congolese star Lokua Kanza. Finally Ahmadou Balake of Burkina Faso and Hector Casanova of Puerto Rico round out the cast of guest vocalists.

"Mandali" artfully blends Africando's crisp horns, piano and percussion with soaring, passionate vocals, often sung in African languages (Seck sings in Wolof, Keita and Diabate in Malinke, and Olomide in Lingala) as well as Spanish. The result is an irresistable fusion that's almost impossible not to dance to. No wonder Africando's music is popular from Dakar to Dar es Salaam; with "Mandali," it's time for America to take notice as well.

Only recently have I joined the Africando bandwagon and I'm loving the ride. Mandali, for me their best album, is a great mix of 'bailable' black rhythms from across the Atlantic that exemplifies what cultural exchange is all about. Perhaps with the power of a Bob Marley, whose rastaman vibrations can evoke smiles simultaneously in Addis Ababa, New York City, Buenos Aires, and Beijing, Africando has an energy and a reach that will not disappoint. Whether you want to dance, wash your car, or chill with a kane, Mandali is one heck of an album. Disfrute!

Over here in good 'old' Germany this CD "Mandali" by Africando is named "Africando All Stars - Betece", and it's still being played in almost every european Salsa club. All 13 tracks are VERY danceable, representing the african branch of Salsa music at its best.

If you'd like more 'oriental' Salsa music, listen to Africando's version of "Aicha" on their CD "Baloba" (2000), a well known song from the Paris-based algerian Rai-singer Khaled. And get the CD "Yo Soy" (2000) by the Colombian Yuri Buenaventura, on which he sings the song "Salsa Rai" together with the Rai-singer Faudel (both now based in Paris).

And if you visit Europe - join the multi-colored Salsa dancefloors!

I am honestly surprised that this album is so hard to find on the salsa shelves in mainstream CD stores. "Mandali" is one of the tightest, smoothest and most intricate salsa albums I have heard in a very long time. For those familiar with the sound of salsa, it is evident that the rhythms, instrumentation and call and response style to the coro is derived from traditional African music.

Africando is a smooth ensemble that showcases vocalists from countries including Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal and Cuba. We hear the vocalists singing in their native languages of French, Wolof, (Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal) and Spanish (Cuba) and it sounds divine. Along with the instruments we have come to recognize as part of Cuban-style salsa (timbales, horns, etc.) each singer (be they African or Latino) truly makes the music their own. You might recognize popular songs like "Pepita" (track 6) on this album, as well as the title cut, "Mandali."

This music will lift your soul, the beautiful vocalists with their expressive interpretations will have you hooked and it will make the rainiest of days a little more bright and enjoyable. Highly reccomended.........

Terrific CD and very impressive collaborations with many of the biggest stars from Africa and the Carribean.

Yeah, yeah, I am sweating the small details here. However, there is no way any one human can be expected to understand all of the languages spoken on this CD, certainly at least a song name translation to english would have been nice.
The fact I am upset about this should only tell you how much I want to know about the amazing music in this CD. The arrangements are absolutely incredible and having some instrumental variety, each well suited for the voice of the vocalist singing.

This is simply the finest Afro-Latin salsa album ever made! Don't hestitate, just buy it! Boncana Maiga is the best arranger of salsa I've ever heard, and this is his finest album. It is a stunning, lush, complex, generous (over 1 hour long) extraveganza; sung in many languages, African and Carribean. This is the perfect album for any lover of salsa, Afro-Latin, Cuban or other Latino music.

Mandali is the best introduction to the African roots or trans-Atlantic nature of Salsa. Sonfo and Doni Doni are equally good. This is a "must have" for your salsa playlist. I've heard it in NYC, Berlin and Tokyo. While not on this album, there's a 7:05 minute remix of Yaye Boy (led by Pape Seck) on Earthworks' "African Salsa" album which shows the power of Africando's orchestrations, arrangements and singing. Africando will really move you.

Heard pepita and knew the other cuts had to be dynamic. OMG the CD is all that. The blend, the mix of languages and I don't know what they are saying but then again music can be appreciated regardless of knowledge of it. The music and the rhythms touch my soul. They make me want to dance all day long. The music speaks to me like no other. Its' a high energy CD. Buy this CD!!!!!!!! if you ar a salsa lover - especially. And folks say Samba is better? What??????????????

Truly one of the best salsa albums I own, and I known a thing or two about salsa music, I've been collecting it and dancing to it for years. A great album for dancing or just listening, not very slow or very fast paced, always just the right tempo. I personally recommend "BETECE",
"SCANDALO" and "DONI DONI". Great salsa classics!

I used to think that salsa music wouldn't sound right in a language other than Spanish, I'm glad to say I was wrong... oh so wrong!

I would tell anyone who wants to enjoy truly brilliant salsa rhythms to buy this album, it's worth every penny.