Soro
Soro is the album that brought Salif Keita international stardom though he was already
... more
well-known in West Africa from his work with The Rail Band and Les Ambassadeurs. Keita's voice is in peak form, soaring and swooping with awe-inspiring power. For th...
Soro - Salif Keita
Soro is the album that brought Salif Keita international stardom though he was already
... more
well-known in West Africa from his work with The Rail Band and Les Ambassadeurs. Keita's voice is in peak form, soaring and swooping with awe-inspiring power. For th...
SORO
Known throughout the world as the golden voice of Mali, Salif Keita was already a star in
... more
world music circles before the release of his debut solo album SORO shot him to international stardom. Keita's personal and musical history is long and fascinatin...
Soro - Salif Keita
Soro is the album that brought Salif Keita international stardom though he was already
... more
well-known in West Africa from his work with The Rail Band and Les Ambassadeurs. Keita's voice is in peak form, soaring and swooping with awe-inspiring power. For these sessions, Keita has gathered an all-star band that is innovative, solid and turn-on-a-dime tight. The production, state-of-the-art in 1987, sounds just as bright and fresh today. This CD draws its strength from the rich traditions of Malian culture, melded with cutting edge musical technology and a global outlook. All of the tracks on Soro are crucial, though the bittersweet "Cono" and the intricate and epic title track "Soro" (Afriki) are standouts. --Jeff Grubb
Soro - Salif Keita
Soro is the album that brought Salif Keita international stardom though he was already
... more
well-known in West Africa from his work with The Rail Band and Les Ambassadeurs. Keita's voice is in peak form, soaring and swooping with awe-inspiring power. For these sessions, Keita has gathered an all-star band that is innovative, solid and turn-on-a-dime tight. The production, state-of-the-art in 1987, sounds just as bright and fresh today. This CD draws its strength from the rich traditions of Malian culture, melded with cutting edge musical technology and a global outlook. All of the tracks on Soro are crucial, though the bittersweet "Cono" and the intricate and epic title track "Soro" (Afriki) are standouts. --Jeff Grubb
Album Notes: Known throughout the world as the golden voice of Mali, Salif Keita was already a star in world music circles before the release of his debut solo album SORO shot him to international stardom. Keita's personal and musical history is long and fascinating. Born a visually impaired albino, he is descended from a great warrior king of the Manding Empire and risked familial disgrace by becoming a musician, a job traditionally seen as for the lower classes. After achieving some success with West African bands like Les Ambassadeurs, Keita moved toward a harder-rock sound tempered by his glorious soaring tenor voice. Produced by the legendary Ibrahima Sylla, SORO broke new ground by blending the traditional griot music of Mali with Euro-Pop sounds and top-flight Western production. The track "Wamba" burns hot with a funky big-band sound that uses a synthesizer to keep the beat and a choir of earthy back-up singers to keep it real. The title track "Soro" also gets the heavy synth treatment, but a chorus of handclaps and Keita's vocal make this track the most moving and effective. The album's explosive energy paired with Keita's vocal sound and phrasing results in a remarkable album.
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Advantages: Great triple CD Disadvantages: None
...jazz style horns.
There's Chief Udoh Essiet whose style reminds me of the best of blues, with a fantastic horn section that could blow even the great horn sections of the past into a cocked hat. His song they Must Go also brings in elements of African gospel singing. And some cool funky guitar, too!
And there's Peter King, whose Watusi is the epitome of cross cultural genius, with laid back jazz grooves that would stand up against any of the jazz greats of the past 40 years. Maybe more.
Next up is something by Femi Kuti, Truth Don Die. Femi is the son of Fela Kuti, and is no mean musician himself. Funky, groovy, and eminently danceable.
Next is SalifKeita, whose track Madan (Laid remix) is a splendid working of modern style with traditional African music and singing.
Next up is Witchcraft, another song by Fela Kuti, making excellent...
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05.11.2005
