New Music From Bembeya Jazz on Calabash Music

Bembeya

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:28:35 -0500

This first recording in 14 years by Guinea's Bembeya Jazz is a landmark in Afropop history. It is also the start of an exciting new chapter in the life of one of Africa's greatest dance bands. This set of new recordings from the vast Bembeya repertoire is both a nod to their glorious past and a preview of new work to come. A revitalized Bembeya Jazz addresses the world to say: the golden era of West African dance bands is back!
Released in 2002 on Marabi.

10 Years of Success

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:28:35 -0500

This is something very special: A live recording from Bembeya Jazz National's 10 year jubilee concert in the "People's Palace" of Guinea's capitol, Conakry in 1971. The band stood at the pinnacle of its career, so this is a historical record in the best sense of the word. The recording is impressive: an audience of 2500, including the Politbureau(!) in Guinea's Democracy Party, are enthusiastically in place. The band performs with full accoutrements - the rhythm section consisting of several types of drums, a complete horn section, and not least the number one guitarist, Sekou Diabate. This is an incredible disk - top rate Cuban music, but performed by Africans who, of course, give it their own Afro-sound. This is on the one hand well-arranged, Latino big band music, but on the other hand the improvisation and Mandinka traditions are not repressed but regularly shine through. Sekou Diabate has by no means steered alone; he must have heard Jimi Hendrix, Peter Green, and Wes Montgomery. He plays the most incredible riffs on electric guitar to enormous jubilation at The People's Palace. A real classic! Re-issued in 2000.

Homage to Demba Camara

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:28:35 -0500

Aboubacar Demba Camara was one of the most influent founders and greatest singer of Bembeya Jazz. In 1973 Camara was killed in a car crash. This tribute album contains almost all biggest hits from the early sixties to Camara's death - The early years of a youthful band in young, independent and democratic country Guinea during he times of President Sekou Touré.

The Syliphone Years (Disc 1 of 2)

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:28:35 -0500

The Syliphone Years (Disc 2)

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:28:35 -0500