#4505, African Collaborations
It’s an hour of music that combines musicians from Sub-Saharan Africa, or folks with a Caribbean-African connection together with Europeans and North Americans. There’s music by Cuban pianist Omar Sosa in collaboration with musicians from East Africa, Canadian-Malian Djely Tapa, and France-based Martinique-born David Walters. Plus, music from Senegalese singer Oumar Ndiaye and musician/producer Smokey Hormel, and Congolese Québécois singer-songwriter Pierre Kwenders.
Sample liberally from Barcelona-based Cuban pianist Omar Sosa’s latest, An East African Journey, a collection of collaborative music-making from some 10 years of East African travels. Listen to two works that Sosa made with Rajery, who plays the valiha – a zither from Madagascar, built around a bamboo tube and traditionally used to summon spirits. There’s also music in collaboration with Sileshi Demesse, Ethiopian master of the Krar, a traditional 5-string bowl-shaped lyre. Plus, hear a song with the Malagasy musician Monja Mahafay, who plays Marovany, a box zither with 24 steel strings.
Then, listen to music by Marseille-based composer/guitarist/vocalist David Walters who is of Martiniquais descent, from his record Nocturne, which features French cellist/bassist Vincent Segal, Malian kora master Ballaké Sissoko, and veteran percussionist, Roger Raspail, originally from Guadeloupe. There’s Malian Afro-Futurist music from Djely Tapa, who is based in Canada and is the daughter of griot singer Kandia Kouyaté. Also, hear self-described “Wakanda-esque” music by Congolese Québécois singer songwriter Pierre Kwenders, with producer Tendai Maraire (Shabazz Palaces).
Rounding out the show is music by Brazilian-based Senegalese singer Oumar Ndiaye and musician/producer Smokey Hormel, along with a song about a sea monster by the UK folk trio TEYR who combine their uilleann pipes, accordion and guitar with the London-based South African cellist Abel Selaocoe singing fishermen’s chants. - Caryn Havlik
Watch Omar Sosa and Rajery perform "Tsiaro Tsara":
Program #4505, African collaborations (First Aired 6/07/2021)
ARTIST: David Walters, Segal, Sissoko, Raspail
WORK: Vansé [1:00]
RECORDING: Nocturne
SOURCE: Heavenly Sweetness
INFO: davidwaltersplay.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Omar Sosa and Rajery
WORK: Tsiaro Tsara (Good Memories) [4:07]
RECORDING: An East African Journey
SOURCE: Otá Records
INFO: melodia.com
ARTIST: Omar Sosa and Rajery
WORK: Veloma E [3:23]
RECORDING: An East African Journey
SOURCE: Otá Records
INFO: melodia.com
ARTIST: David Walters, Segal, Sissoko, Raspail
WORK: Vansé [5:28]
RECORDING: Nocturne
SOURCE: Heavenly Sweetness
INFO: davidwaltersplay.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Djely Tapa
WORK: Pachagon [2:59]
RECORDING: Barokan
SOURCE: Disques Nuits d'Afrique
INFO: Available at Amazon.com, Spotify, AppleMusic, YouTube Music
ARTIST: TEYR ft. Abel Selaocoe, cello
WORK: An Tros [5:42]
RECORDING: Estren
SOURCE: Sleight of Hand
INFO: teyr.bandcamp.com/album/estren
ARTIST:Seleshe Damessae
WORK: ānichī liji / Ache Lej [3:09]
RECORDING: Tesfaye: Future Hope Vocal and string music of Ethiopia
SOURCE: Music of the World
INFO: Try Amazon.com | Awesome Tapes from Africa also has info about Vol. 1
ARTIST: Omar Sosa and Seleshe Damessae
WORK: Tizeta [5:44]
RECORDING: An East African Journey
SOURCE: Otá Records
INFO: melodia.com
ARTIST: Oumar Ndiaye
WORK: Aduna [3:43]
RECORDING: Soutoura
SOURCE/INFO: soutouramusic.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Pierre Kwenders
WORK: Zonga (feat. Tanyaradzwa) [4:08]
RECORDING: MAKANDA at the End of Space, the Beginning of Time
SOURCE: Bonsound
INFO: therealpierrekwenders.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Omar Sosa and Monja Mahafay
WORK: Eretseretse [3:41]
RECORDING: An East African Journey
SOURCE: Otá Records
INFO: melodia.com
