A bit of everything

I have put in this section various recordings that are the results of one-shot sessions or not yet finished projects.

Manssata Sora

I have started in the summer of 2018 a new project with senegalese Manssata Sora. She comes from a country-side environment and sings in the griot tradition.

Using her traditionnal singing style and her marvellous skill for improvisation, we are co-composing the songs (along with guitarist Alpha Athié). My goal is to build a harmonious synthesis between tradition and modernism, which is not in the autotune style of many current african productions.

Currently I am concentrating on the production of 4 tracks which, I hope, will be able to make their way out of the classical structures of the belgian show-biz which hasn’t given me a lot of opportunities so far.

1. 1Mousso (Extr 3 min)
   Une femme apprend que son mari la trompe //// A woman learns that her husband is cheating on her (solo guitar by Alpha Athié)
2. 2Weyal (Extr 2:30)
   Manssata chante comment ses parents lui ont transmis la tradition des griots //// Manssata sings about how her parents passed on to her the Griot tradition
3. 3Kananyabo (Extr 2:30)
   Il faut être responsable avec l'argent et les biens matériels //// One has to be responsible with money and materiel goods
4. 4Exil (Extr 2:30)
   Une mise en garde à propos des périls du voyage et de la dureté de l'exil en Europe //// A warning about the hazards of the voyage and the hardships of being exiled in Europe
5. 5Bambo (Extr 4 min)
   Une chanson d'amour sur un rythme entrainant. La deuxième partie nous emmène dans un sebene congolais avec du chant à la sénégalaise. Un cocktail panafricain donc. /// A love song on a bouncing rhythm. The 2nd part takes us on a congolsese sebene so this becomes a panafrican cocktail.
6. 6Manio (Extr 3 Mn)
   Une composition sur un rythme inclassable (entre le Congo et la musique du Golfe de Guinée) qui nous parle de mariage /// A composition on a fusion rhythm (somewhere between Congo and the Guinea Gulf. Thel yrics are about marriage

Ben Ngabo

I have worked on and off with Ben, either for my tracks (he plays djembe in Kenizé and UmugoreW’Ibanga) or for various recording sessions. The titles which are presented here is a session of 2000 with Chris Joris that was meant to be used as a film music.

1. 1Rythme #1
   Ben est au djembé et Chris aux tambours d’accompagnement.
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2. 2Rythme #2
   Un autre morceau de cette session.
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3. 3Impro #1
   Un autre morceau de cette session avec Chris au likembe et à la flûte et Ben au chant.
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Bao Sissoko

I had started in 2008 a project with Bao that included the kora. The project remained dormant for several years but I re-activated it in summer 2015 including the musicians from Orchestre Toubab.

Because of conflicts on the relative attribution of rights (who has composed what ?) I decided to release ony ‘Sanaa’ which is based on a traditional song.

1. 1Sanaa
   La première partie est basée sur le traditionnel "Sanou" avec quelques ajouts mélodiques. La deuxième partie part en mbalax /// The first part is based on the traditionnal "Sanou" with some melodic extensions. The second part moves to the mbalax rhythm.
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2. 2AlalE
   C'est l'extension de la composition "Alal" de Bao. J'ai rajouté toute la deuxième partie du thème, une partie de solos ainsi que des variations d'accords. Beau résultat final, même si je ne sais pas si le morceau pourra être diffusé un jour d'une manière plus large
3. 3Lambi
   Basé sur l'accompagnment de fête "Lamba". Les thèmes sont en duo violon-guitare. La partie rythmique est un mélange afro-cubain avec un zeste de congolais. //// Based on the traditionnal festive accompaniment "Lamba". The themes are in a duet violin-guitar. The rhythm part is an afro-cuban mix with some congolese licks.

Malick Pathé Sow

Malick came to see me in 2013 and asked me to help him making his 6^th CD. As a preview I am proposing a remix of a 2008 live recording of one of his songs.

1. 1Jolejole (Live)