Specialist in All Styles

Orchestra Baobab | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 8, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Nonesuch
• ASIN: B00006JIAP
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #70,516 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #18 in Music > World Music > Africa > Senegal & Gambia
  • #33 in Music > Indie Music > World Music > Africa

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

It's ironic that Youssou N'Dour coproduced Specialist in All Styles. After all, it was the emergence of N'Dour's upbeat mbalax music in the early '80s that hurried the passing of Orchestra Baobab, which had been the most popular band in Senegal for 10 years. Baobab's Afro-Latin blend was unique, but it sounded like fond memory next to the in-your-face mbalax. Following up the reissue in 2002 of the legendary 1982 album Pirates Choice, Baobab has returned to active duty after a 15-year hiatus. Specialist features many of the original members and recaptures the classic sound. The band revives great older Baobab songs like "On Verra Ça" and "Ndongoy Daara," brings in a few folk tunes, and rounds out the album with strong new material. "Homage A Tonton Ferrer" is a rollicking vocal tour de force featuring Cuba's Ibrahim Ferrer and N'Dour. Moreover, the band is tight throughout, with fantastic solos coming from guitarist Barthelemy Attisso and saxophonist Issa Cissoko. --Tad Hendrickson

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Universal Appeal, February 15, 2003

By 

Larry White (AdultPop.com) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Specialist in All Styles (Audio CD)

If we gather correctly, Orchestra Baobab is a vintage Senegalese musical group who, prior to this cd, last recorded in the early 80s. On the heels of the success of their 1982 album, 'Pirate's Choice', issued in the U.S. only last year, Orchestra Baobab have, for the most part, reunited to record this wonderful cd. Although this is music generally indigenous to or stemming from their various tribal cultures, it is rich with colors from other cultures as well. As a result, this album should appeal not only t those familiar with African music, but to lovers of reggae, Latin music, and American r&b, too. Singers like the marvelous Assane Mboup, apparently a new, younger member of the group, not only follow in the tradition of countryman Youssou N'Dour, who co-produced the album, but in the footsteps of Frankie Lymon and Jackie Wilson. All the musicians are truly spectacular, but we must single out three in particular. Barthelemy Attiso unleashes a string of guitar solos equal in excitement and expressiveness to any we have heard in any genre, including in his arsenal of sounds some bell-toned notes that bring to mind the late, Grate Jerry Garcia. And nearly as thrilling are the rhythmic and sensuous saxophones of Issa Cissokho and Thierno Koite, taking turns or in tandem. The album's highlight, aside from the aforementioned, is the magnificent vocal and instrumental jam session inspired by, dedicated to, and spearheaded by the venerable Ibrahim Ferrer of the Buena Vista Social Club. The song epitomizes the deep connection between Latin and African music. And, like the rest of the album, one need not have the slightest understanding of the words to appreciate its power, beauty and funkiness.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfection and more, December 26, 2002

By 

"davidhananel2" (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Specialist in All Styles (Audio CD)

I have to admit that when I read about Baobab's reunion and their intention to release a new album, I was a bit sceptical. I was happy that the band would finally get much deserved recognition, but surely they could not create and play music as amazing as they did in the late 70s and early 80s.

Well, I was wrong! From the very first seconds of the opening track Bulmamiin, it feels like Baobab never stopped playing together. This album has everything that made them a great band the first time round - the beautiful voice of Rudi Gomis; the indescribable guitar solos of Barthelemy Atisso, the understated beatiful saxophone work of Issa Cissoko, but most of all an amazing mixture of different styles as interpreted by a band that obviously enjoys playing together.

I can't say this tops Pirate's Choice - my all time favorite album of any genre -, but it comes pretty close and reestablishes Baobab at their rightful place in today's scene.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Slightly Overrated, December 1, 2003

By 

"woodstockvet" (Pawleys Island, SC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Specialist in All Styles (Audio CD)

Unless this is your only O.B. album, there's some filler here. Hommage A Tonton Ferrer is essentially a shorter version (with different lyrics) of Utrus Horas, the first track on Pirates Choice, and the longer version is better played and more hypnotic. El Son Te Llama is a faster, shorter cover of the better-played version from On Verra Ca. (The original version, by the way, is also available on Putumayo Presents Afro-Latino, an excellent compilation.) The remaining seven songs are quite good and offer plenty of variety. One only wishes O.B. could have re-entered the studio, after so many years, with totally original material.