Long Story Short

Sekou Sundiata

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 8, 2000)
• Original Release Date: February 8, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Righteous Babe
• ASIN: B000040JCV
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #181,251 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

With its dedication to Amadou Diallo and its poems covering subjects like reparations, slavery, and Mary J. Blige, Sekou Sundiata sets out to make "poems that are African American as bean pies and be-attitudes."

There's a righteous anger that permeates this disc, but its expression comes off more as a burning coal than a blowtorch--that is, instead of using the staccato rhythms and the relatively harsh vocals of the rappers, Sundiata's approach is more down-tempo, almost elegiac, and his voice is mellifluous, intimate, and warm. Not a huge voice like, say, James Earl Jones; rather, he uses a slow, seductive, clearly enunciated delivery to draw you into his words.

His interest is to write popular verse that functions both as dance music and serious spoken poetry. To him, it's not an either/or, you can do both-you can "dance and be still." While most people won't be dancing to this disc, the music-mostly keyboards, bass, and drum-is coolly competent, and his efforts to make poetry accessible are more than commendable. --Wally Shoup

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sekou Sundiata does it again., April 30, 2000

By	Steve Rowland (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews

Sekou Sundiata proves himself to be one of the most daunting artists able to combine poetry and music. His work continues in the tradition (set with extraordinary standards) by Langston Hughes with Charles Mingus, and later by Amiri Baraka with David Murray and Jayne Cortez and the Firespitters.

On Longstoryshort, Sundiata continues his deep previous explorations of American culture, racism, music and more-- and with great success combines them with music for life -- this CD has something for everyone -- great beats, memorable grooves and searing words. Poems about Harlem, about Nelson Mandela, about listening to Eric Dolphy with a past love. A blessing.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sundiata tells it like it is, July 16, 2001

By	"rhonnie2" (Michigan) - See all my reviews

Sekou Sundiata describes his work as "rhythm and news"; taking the beats of the street and using them as a backdrop for his poetry. Captivating and engaging songs tell the story of the African American people...

Sundiata's music echoes these sentiments. Whether a poem about slavery of the past or street life of the present, each one holds many striking truths. His style of layering spoken word over R&B and jazz with smooth vocals makes his work appealing accross many age groups and backgrounds. Fans of R&B, jazz, soul, folk rock, and poetry alike will embrace Sudiata's message; we can't live our lives today without remembering how we got here.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Powerful poetry, April 13, 2003

By	"fulanita" (Oregon) - See all my reviews

This cd has quite an unusual sound to it. Sundiata recites poetry while music --
mostly hip-hop, blues and funk (and a didjeridoo in track 9!) -- plays in the background.
Although a lot of the rhythms are funky, this is definitely not a record to dance or
to sit back and relax to-- the imagery is complicated and actually requires intellectual
concentration. The lyrics are often highly political and provocative, which I find
refreshing, especially since Sundiata is an accomplished poet, who can play with
words to create original and powerful images.