Badenya: Manden Jaliya in New York City

by BADENYA: MANDEN JALIYA IN NEW Y

Overview

The performers on this album -- there are more than a dozen of them, playing in various combinations -- are from the Manden area of West Africa, coming from the countries of Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Gambia, and Mali. They play in the jaliya style, which has roots going back to the 13th century Mali empire and had a social/historian role as well as a musical one. Since 1997, the musicians, based in New York City, have been part of the Badenya program. This 11-song, 65-minute CD presents styles and repertoire reflective of all of their native lands, with some modern influence. There's not much modern influence that can be detected, at least to average Western listeners whose exposure to African music might have been limited, even if they've heard a fair amount of it on non-commercial radio. The modern traces seem most prominent in a few of the lyrics (English translations are provided in the notes), some of which have 20th century references, and some occasional Afro-pop elements in bass and guitar (particularly in the guitar on "Djiu De Galinha"). The emphasis falls very much on Manden lutes and didiophones, including the kora and bala, as well as mellifluous yet melismatic vocals. It's an attractive sound, yet even given the range of countries and instrumentation, there isn't as much variety as one might expect. A highlight, partly because it's a little different in tone from much of the rest of the material, is "Keme Burema," which has some energetic tambin (an end-blown flute) punctuated by some frenetic, occasionally whooping vocals. ~ Richie Unterberger

Product Details

Release Date:	07/23/2002
Label:	SMITHSONIAN FOLKWAYS
UPC:	0093074049426

Tracks

1. Fakoli (Mali)
2. Jigiya (Mali)
3. Kinzan
4. Nanfulen  - Abdoulaye Diabate
5. Janjon (Mali)  - Abdoulaye Diabate  -  Dioubate  - Fousseny Kouyate  - Yacouba Sissoko  - Abou Sylla
6. Sidi Yellah (Gambia)
7. Sori Kemedon (Guinea)  -  Dioubate  - Abou Sylla
8. Keme Burema (Guinea)  -  Dioubate
9. Allah L'A Ke
10. Diniya (Guinea)  - Abou Sylla
11. Djiu De Galinha  - Rufus Cappadocia  - Keba Cissoko  -  Dioubate  - Peter Fand  - Chikako Iwahori  - Sylvain Leroux

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Peter Fand   Primary Artist,Bass
Keba Cissoko   Primary Artist
Fousseny Kouyate   Primary Artist,N'Goni
Famoro Dioubate   Primary Artist,Xylophone,Balan
Sylvain Leroux   Primary Artist,Guitar,Tambor
Abou Sylla   Primary Artist,Balan,Dun-dun,Xylophone
Yacouba Sissoko   Primary Artist,Kora
Rufus Cappadocia   Primary Artist,Cello
Chikako Iwahori   Primary Artist,Voices
Abdoulaye Diabate   Primary Artist,Vocals,Voices
Mamadou Diabate   Kora
Moussa Sissoko   Guitar

Technical Credits

Tom Van Buren   Compilation Producer
Nancy Groce   Series Executive Producer
Dan Sheehy   Production Supervisor
D.A. Sonneborn   Production Supervisor
Jeff Place   Archivist
Peter Fand   Engineer
Sonya Cohen Cramer   Design,Layout Design
Abou Sylla   Translation,Duet
Ethel Raim   Series Executive Producer
Brenda Ferry   Mixing,Engineer
Jacob Love   Editorial Assistant
Mary Monseur   Production Coordination
Pete Reiniger   Sound Supervision
Stephanie Smith   Archivist
Famoro Dioubate   Duet
Carla Borden   Editing
Ronnie Simpkins   Audio Supervisor