Africa music reviews

I clearly remember the first time I saw R�gis Gizavo and from then on I could call myself a 'fan'. It was a Sunday morning back in 1999 when I watched a Dutch TV program on VPRO called 'Reiziger in muziek', hosted by Han Reiziger. I saw R�gis performing together with Lamereignas (probably misspelled here) and some others, and it was... incredible! This man can play music! Better: HE IS MUSIC! I was lucky I could tape his second song 'Malaso' on VCR then, and I bought Mikea a few days later on Amazon.com. Since then my world and my perception of music has changed dramatically. About a year ago I bought R�gis latest release 'Samy olembelo', which is even better. R�gis has the ability to combine traditional music with pop, jazz, cajun and other styles of music. Furthermore he is capable of setting up 'right from the heart live performances' as he showed last Tuesday, March 25, 2003 in Vredenburg, Utrecht (Netherlands) together with the group Tiharea (I also highly recommend their latest album on which R�gis also plays on a couple of songs). If you like good music, check out R�gis Gizavo's albums and try to catch him at one of his gigs. I bet he will catch you right in your heart!

i saw regis in new orleans (twice) at the jazz fess this year and was completely captivated. he IS the music. the cd is terrific and does a great job of capturing his feeling. regis is a cross between early baaba maal,nursat, and zydeco. please encourage him to make a live recording.

A great CD by a young virtuoso accordianist from Madagascar. In his native country, accordian music is used to create trances as part of religious and healing ceremonies.

Very strong technique, but the feeling in the music is what makes the CD stand out. The first time I heard it, I had to pull the car to the side of the road to listen. Try this CD and you'll be enchanted by it!

I was amazed when a friend loaned me this CD. It is jazz at it's finest. Geraghty is a bass master, and the sounds flow so effortlessly, it's as if everyone featured on this disc has been playing in the same group for 20 years. Though each song shines, Geraghty's beautiful rendition of Coltrane's "Naima" is what stands out the most to me. 2 thumbs up to the MG Project.

This album is incredible!

I'll admit that when it comes to the bass it is an instrument that can be misunderstood and underated. Matt Geraghty changes that view. With Mozaic you will appreciate a level of bass playing that rivals many others.

This is a jazz album that takes risks. Mixing Brazilian, Spanish, and Moroccan sounds you see that Matt is well versed in world music. Matt is definitely on the way up in the jazz scene.

I highly recommend this album, it's definitely a keeper.

The MATT GERAGHTY PROJECT is a stunning and exciting jazz work featuring contemporary jazz blended with cultural sounds of India, Brazil, North Africa, and Spain. It is a collection both innovative and imaginative from composer Matt Geraghty who performs on acoustic bass and electric bass.

The performances are sharp, clean, solid, lively, and imaginative. There are 8 songs on the CD. Among the songs are Matt Geraghty's compositions alongside Ornette Coleman's "Turnaround," John Coltrane's "Naima," Morricone's "Cinema Paradisco," and Miles Davis' "Nardis." Original songs from Geraghty include "Sevilla," "A Procura," "Metamorfose," and "Bassline to Bowery."

There are many elements of straight-ahead/classic jazz and free jazz flirting in a fine manner with the world music themes. This is a greatly enjoyable collection.

Every musician is topnotch. Ben Lewis is superb on his piano stylings. Matt Geraghty is one of the finest bass players around, and this is a showcase for his talents.

Very, very nice. MOZAIC is a winner in all aspects!

The Cd I have is,'Moorish Music From Muratania'. As inspiration for well known Malian guitarist, Ali Farka Toure(who recorded with Ry Cooder on Talking Timbuctoo), Dimi Mint Abba possesses one of the most expressively passionate voices recording in any language today. I would rest my case with the single track 4 title,'Hassaniya', a love poem. Both Dimi and Khalifa Ould Eide are pofessional musicians, iggawin, who are adapting instruments from throughout the Arab world, such as the oud and qanun to traditional Mauritanian music. The electric guitar is also present on this disc. To a novice, like myself, these 'intrusions' go undetected. They embellish the thrilling voices and throbbing complex rhythms that evoke the shifting moods of arid countries. She sings,'In praise of the Prophet', adapted from an old Yemeni poem,which seguines into praise of Muaritania's independence. Having no inkling of Arabic, I'm at the mercy of what may be quite clumsy translations. 'Art's Plume' has 'winged songs in rapture float aboard a vessel of hopes/The songs of my lute - from my heart's bliss or lamentations proceeding - do my soul transport.' The fact that my culture has effectively extinguished such concepts from popular speech aside, it's for certain that Dimi's voice, her being, has not. This entire CD is indeed ' a whisper elevating as a golden bridge, soaring in loftiness.' That said, the choice of track 10 for the exemplary'Desert Blues' compilation, is not representative of the great ecstasy experienced elsewhere on this treasure. Mauritania has withstood colonisation throughout milennia. Since the demise of the USSR the U.S propoganda machine has accelerated its program of painting Islamic cultures as dysfunctional. ie: measured by their failure to integrate with the global neoliberal orders. One hopes that the persausive powers of an all-encompassing market do not erode voices as strident as Dimi's and Khalifa's, or that the propaganda succeeds in demonizing them.

Hello, My name is alifal ben lahbib, I live in the United Kingdom, My surname is Alifal and family name is ben lahbib, I studying in an English class in the Uk,

The first second you put this on you wonder what's wrong with the sound quality, relax, within minutes you will be weaving round the room like a mad old dervish, wondering why on earth you too cannnot sing like this even though you try.

This is an excellent example of Nubian music, El Din is a master. I remember this album from when it first came out, my dad bought it and it soon became a favorite of our family. I am pleased to re-discover this treasure as an adult.

The artist is a rare and natural genius.

Nubians in Egypt are know rejuvenating their centuries old culture that is older than egypt aka Kemet. Many people donot know the nubians even exist any more,but they still continue like the fellahin in Southern Egypt their ancient lifestyle. I just love the way Hamaza combines the enchanting sounds of the OUD,and breathes life into the ancient strings. The OUD is not a arab instrument,but in fact a instrument that goes back to the period of the Old Kingdom. The arabs discovered of course at about the same time the Phophet muhammed died and the arabs started to bring islam to the rest of the world through the sword. I wish though that Hamaza would bring the kissar into more focus because it is a beautiful nubian instrument.

Buy this album because it is a document of a culture that once was,but know can only be seen in museums and exhibitons.

My introduction to the master, Wasis Diop, was through the movie "Th Thomas Crown Affair" (one of my fav movies!) in which one the soundtracks was by Mr.Diop. Originally from Senegal (Senegalese music is very distinct from sounds of other parts of Africa!), now settled in France, "No Sant" was his first album, "Toxu" being the second.

In this album my favorites:
*"No Sant" is absolutely fantastic, fittingly the album is also named after, supported by the amazing vocals of Lena Figabe.
*Chorus from "Di Na wo" is amazing...
*"African Dream", which is performed with Lena Figabe too..
*"Le Voyaguer" brings out Wasis's talent...truly!

Overall, if you are into African/World music, then PICK THIS UP! Worth every dollar spent, you wont go wrong!

Enjoy!

This is a very good artistic work. I must have looked in 10 music stores for this on CD-ROM before I got lucky and found one. Although I listen to all types of music, I cannot seem to get this one out of my CD player as I want to hear this again before playing something else. This is one of those works that you can go back to over and over again without getting tired of it. I've written alot of good software while listening to Wasis Diop.

I instantly fell in love with this album when I first heard it. It's innovative music that draws from deep African roots music and a fresh variety of World sounds--even bagpipes--for a contemporary pop fusion that is scrumptious and memorable. I have a love affair with African music, and this album is at the top of my very long list.

My introduction to the master, Wasis Diop, was through the movie "Th Thomas Crown Affair" (one of my fav movies!) in which one the soundtracks was by Mr.Diop. Originally from Senegal (Senegalese music is very distinct from sounds of other parts of Africa!), now settled in France, "No Sant" was his first album, "Toxu" being the second.

In this album my favorites:
*"No Sant" is absolutely fantastic, fittingly the album is also named after, supported by the amazing vocals of Lena Figabe.
*Chorus from "Di Na wo" is amazing...
*"African Dream", which is performed with Lena Figabe too..
*"Le Voyaguer" brings out Wasis's talent...truly!

Overall, if you are into African/World music, then PICK THIS UP! Worth every dollar spent, you wont go wrong!

Enjoy!

This is a very good artistic work. I must have looked in 10 music stores for this on CD-ROM before I got lucky and found one. Although I listen to all types of music, I cannot seem to get this one out of my CD player as I want to hear this again before playing something else. This is one of those works that you can go back to over and over again without getting tired of it. I've written alot of good software while listening to Wasis Diop.

I instantly fell in love with this album when I first heard it. It's innovative music that draws from deep African roots music and a fresh variety of World sounds--even bagpipes--for a contemporary pop fusion that is scrumptious and memorable. I have a love affair with African music, and this album is at the top of my very long list.

i grew up in nigeria and through 1986 - 1988 i listened to this pioneering south african pop singers songs like, im burning up, mkwombothi(pardon if the spelling is wrong) and "thank u mr. dj for playing my song",these jams had me and my sisters dancing for months without stop. this was and still is when she was in her prime it's like micheal jacson in his billie jean days. i listened to yvonne chaka chaka and majek fashek and still have very fond memories of those times. i am definitely buying the princess of africa collection even though i am not sure of some of the songs. up nigeria and up chaka chaka.GREAT AFRICA. AIGBE CHICAGO

That, ladies and gentlemen, is the question: is this admittedly

intriguing-looking Yvonne Chaka Chaka release an actual, so-

called "studio album" (presumably from the mid- or late 1990s),

all or almost all the songs of which are not repeats or remixes

of earlier-released material...or is it a presumably mid- or

late-Nineties compilation? For one thing, it so often seems that

South African-- if not GENERALLY African-- popular-music

artistes were "volumetrically" unable or unwilling to repeatedly

release albums with more than eight all-new SONGS (not just

"tracks") at a time. Not that quantity equals quality, of

course, but one wonders, you see...

Or is the title "Princess Of Africa" a wearily obvious

"giveaway"?

I used to listen to her music over the Radio, and everywhere in the streets of Africa, she is a house hold song bird, it is like she is telling a story, but then the story turns out into a lullaby that put everyone to sleep in a broad day light. Her style is nostalgic especially when you watch her video " The Best Of Princess of Africa" I would like to order this video in VHS.

After receiving the Rough Guide to World Music book as a present, I was anxious to expore their recorded works. Of them all, this is my favorite, a journey from trance music, to the influences by or from the Indian subcontinent. This is a great introduction to the varied styles, with contemporary examples. As the Rough Guide cd's are somewhat ecclectic in their variety, this is either a great place to start your journey in this music, or a excellent way to expand your tastes. You may not like everything on the cd, at least at first, but it will open a whole new world.

After a Christmas present of the Rough Guide to World Music book, I was impressed with their printed product. The cd is equally impresssive, as it takes you on a great caravan of North Africa, with a survey encompassing the mystic drone of Morocco and Algeria, to the Indian type music. A great survey, easy to lose yourself in, if this type of music is for you. If you are not familiar with this music, try this cd. You may not like everything, as the Rough Guide thankfully does not play things safe, and can put together an ecclectic, and admirable, cd.

A fascinating mix of African and Cuban music... For centuries, Afro-Cuban rhythms has wafted back and forth over the Atlantic, inspiring the growth of Cuba's various musical styles, and in turn, the West African "rumba" music of the 1950s and '60s. This disc is fairly unique in that it collects hits by African artists who plays specifically "salsa" style music, sometimes singing in French or their local languages, sometimes mixing the style with lovely, lush African guitar work. This is a companion disc to "WORLD SALSA," an earlier collection of international salsa acts (from as far afield as Israel...) As interesting as that disc was, though, this one is superior -- the music is more powerful, and the pacing is more cohesive. Highly recommended!

I have listened to this cd so many times, that, I swear on a stack of whatever is sacred to you, it's worn out and I'm buying another one on my little 1-click amazon thinger. If you want to experience the joy of music, if you want to leave the planet, if just for a half-hour you want to get up off your seat and dance, get this cd.

Afro-Cuban! So you have already purchased the Buena Vista Social Club, and Compay Segundo, and Omara, etc...Well what's next? How about something with a kick? How about some music that will get you on you feet and movin' on the dancefloor? Well, look no further....From the label that brought you Salsa Mundo (Salsa from around the world), Salsa Africa is finally here! Only the finest African artists (including Africando and Papa Wemba), make Salsa Africa sizzle with hot latin rhythms and powerful vocals. Just in time for summer, the time to dance, the time to celebrate, and the time to sweat. Salsa Africa offers all of this....and much more! Buy it!

Altho I like some of Franco's music, I was diasappointed. Maybe I would have liked him live. I bet he had a lot of charisma. I just did not enjoy this CD. The songs were too long and somewhat repetitive for my taste. I love the Mali sound and Salif and Babaa Maal and Rough guide to Mali and Guinea and Tuku but this one for me did not ring any bells for very long.

This album helps you capture the spirit of a master of african music (franco).From early recordings until the end of a triumphant career, you feel the vibration of the soul of africa at its best.Franco's guitar and voice brings a flashback of history when that continent was a land of strong men and happy go lucky people.This album is really the sound of being genuine...

The country that is best known within Africa for its music is Congo, and the musician who is best loved within Congo is Franco. And here is Franco at his best--highlights from early on in his career (starting with "Merengue," clearly showing the Latin influence in what became soukous, Africa's dance music) to late (ending with "Attention na SIDA"--watch out for AIDS--the artist's plea for others to avoid his own fate). My favorite sample of the harmonious vocals and soaring guitar solos (a soukous trademark) is track 7: "O� Est le S�rieux." Great music from a monumental African singer and guitarist.