Marimba rhythms from Colombia Pacifico

Marimba traveled from Africa (balafon) to Central America and the Caribbean several centuries ago. This percussive and melodic instrument had time to spread and can be found along the Pacific shore from Mexico to Ecuador, where it became an integral part of local folklore (and even national pride in Guatemala).

Pico Culture #04 - Soundsystem aesthetics (Baranquilla)

Above painted wood piece is an original decoration from the pico "El Solista", carefully conserved by a fanatical pico lover.

From the 70s each pico developed his own aesthetics through colorful paintings and decorations on the speakers and the control tower. This transmits a real identity to each pico, and can be inspired from pure psychedelic figures (El Dragon, El Cobra), or from personal experiences (for example, El Coreano was created by a colombian man who went to fight in Korea war), or from musical artists (El Pijuan), or from revolutionary figures (El Gran Che, El Gran Fidel). The visual identity personifies the pico, and usually transmits a message of power ("indestructible", "la potencia africana", "guerrillero de la salsa").

It really contributes to glorify the soundsystem, as being also considered as a piece of art.

Palenque culture #01 Palenque de San Basilio

Palenque de San Basilio is a village not far from Cartagena (Colombia) which represents a really unique cultural space. At the dawn of the17th century, several groups of african slaves escaped from spanish settlers, building fortified villages called "palenques". San Basilio village, led originally by african king Benkos Bohio, is the only one who survived up to nowadays.

Balla Onivogui - Paulette (1980)

Syliphone SLP75

To recall Balla Ovinogui's memory who left us few time ago (march 2011), lets share one of Balla et ses Balladins late LP from 1980.

This track shows  great performance of the 2 singers Manfila Soba Kante and Emile Soumah, but horns and guitars are also just perfect. I think they reached the announced objective...

Balla et ses Balladins - Paulette:

Le Sahel Revival in Dakar!!! (ephemeral 70's band from Senegal)

This is a very special post as something big is happening in Dakar right now... The mythic band Le Sahel will play live again next this week.

Le Sahel, named from the club they were playing during the mid 70s, was composed by master musicians and mixed latin rhythms and sabar, giving birth to a unique senegalese style.

After more than 30 years, Dakar based label Teranga Beat, released some of 70s recordings from Idrissa Diop and Cheikh Tidiane Tall (including some never edited tracks!), and is now bringing this band back to life.

Original band musicians playing this week:

Idrissa Diop: vocals
Chekh Tall: keyboard
Thierno Koite: sax
Additional musicians:

Wilfried Zinsou: trombone 

Augustin N'Dione (Cheikh M'Backe): tumba

Serigne Mattar Dieng: drums

Abdoul Aziz N'Diaye: guitar

Ousman Diaw: bass

Marieme Fall: chorist

Le Sahel - Caridad:


From the album Bamba (MUSICLUB, 1975)

Cheikh Tidiane Tall: guitar, keyboard
Seydina Ihsa Wade: guitar
Willy Sakho: bass
Djiguy Diabate: drums
Alassane N'doye: conga
Thierno Koite: sax, flute
Emmanuel Batta: trombone
Jean N'Diaye: trumpet
Papa Djiby Ba: vocals, guiro
Rene Cabral: vocals

Gil Scott-Heron RIP (1949-2011) - Peace Go With You, Brother

Gil Scott-Heron just died 2 days ago. In order to remember this major RAP (Rhythm And Poetry) figure, I just selected 5 tracks from my favorite albums: "Peace Go With You, Brother" for a spiritual funeral, "Who'll Pay Reparation On My Soul?" for the afro-american militancy, "Lady Day and John Coltrane" for the soul and jazz inspiration, "The Bottle" for the funky percussive groove.

Winter In America

Strata-East, 1976

Gil Scott-Heron - Peace Go With You, Brother:

Small Talk at 125th and Lennox

Flying Dutchman, 1970

Gil Scott-Heron - Who'll Pay Reparation On My Soul?:

Pieces Of A Man

Flying Dutchman, 1971

Gil Scott-Heron - Lady Day And John Coltrane:

It's Your World (Live Album)

ARISTA, 1976

Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson - The Bottle (Live):

The Flying Carpet Radioshow

I just had a ride on a musical flying carpet, The Flying Carpet Radioshow (Radio Ciutat Vella FM 100.5 Barcelona). 

An african records selection, and some context.

Listen to the radioshow: 

A muzzicaltrip with ORL