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The best kept secret in music
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Jazz picks
By Bill Beuttler | August 5, 2005
Roy Ayers wraps up his two-night stand at Scullers tonight; saxophonist Walter Beasley celebrates his super-smooth new CD, ''For Her," with three nights there, too, beginning Wednesday. . . . Veteran bluesman Coco Montoya will pay the Regattabar Thursday. . . . Ryles will genre hop through a week highlighted by West African singer-songwriter-guitarist Boubacar Diabate and his group Samba Lolo tonight, an artist showcase set with saxophonist Glenn White Tuesday, Pakistani vocals backed by modern instrumentation (guitar, bass, percussion) from the group Nazranah Wednesday, and the jazzy cabaret of the Lascivious Biddies Thursday. . . . Zeitgeist Gallery will host the 10-piece ''avant-groove ensemble" Ghorar Deem Express Wednesday. . . . Berklee's Gwen Leathers will sing a free ''Jazz at the Fort" concert 5 p.m. Sunday at Roxbury's Highland Park. . . . And the great Frank Morgan will play his alto sax tomorrow at Marblehead Summer Jazz, backed by Hilton Ruiz, Curtis Lundy, and Yoron Israel. - The Boston Globe
March 27, 2006
Interview: Bouba Diabate
Program: Gyroscope
Bouba Diabate sings like he's telling you a secret. It’s relaxed, smooth, and upbeat all at once. The sound takes you somewhere else outside of yourself, and whether you understand the language or not, it still coos its way into your head and creates some kind of peaceful atmosphere that resonates deeply with any listener. The feeling is natural and primal, a far cry from any recent electronic invention we are so prone to hearing.
The instruments and voice together are a pair unlike any another. Tying the hypnotic rhythm of pounding and intricate guitar work with the soothing tone of his vocal chords, the two together present a noise that is worth craving.
You can catch Bouba playing with his band, Samba Lolo, at Matt Murphy’s this weekend and on Gyroscope, weekdays 2-4.
-Andrea Mooney - WERS; The Gyroscope
Griot singer, guitarist, songwriter and storyteller Boubacar Diabate from Bamako, Mali comes from the Mandinka lineage and has combined traditional rhythms with modern influences to create his own style of contemporary Malian Griot music, while singing and playing guitar with his group, Samba Lolo. Singing in Bambara, they create a performance that spans the full spectrum of Traditional to Contemporary Malian music from West Africa.
For more information on Samba Lolo visit:
http://www.myspace.com/sambalolo
Originally formed to travel to Shanghai and fill in a friend’s gig, this all star reggae band was so wildly popular here in the Boston area that it adopted a name and stayed together!
For more information on this band, visit http://www.toussaintandthechinaband.com
Price: $10
Phone: 617-776-2004
Web Page:
http://www.johnnyds.com - Boston Globe
Discography
New CD Release - Spring 2009
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Griot singer, guitarist, songwriter and storyteller Boubacar Diabate from Bamako, Mali comes from the Mandinka lineage and has combined traditional rhythms with modern influences to create his own style of contemporary Malian Griot music presenting his own compositions and arrangements, singing and playing guitar with his group, SambaLolo. Singing in Mandeng and Bamanan, Boubacar and SambaLolo create a performance that spans the full spectrum of Traditional to Contemporary Malian music from West Africa to include Reggae, Blues, Bluegrass and Jazz.
Bouba has collaborated with traditional musicians from villages and cities of Mali, including BTK, Adama Yalomba, Sanus, Amzu, Joh Mohammad Camara, Mamadou Lynk N'Diaye, Sory Diabate, Moussa Traore, Makenzi, Ketly Noel, Krimo, Jan Luc, Ali Farka Toure, Salif Keita with "Cabaret Tribal", Tosh, Vieni, Ooumou Sangare, Ladji Shekou and others...
Bouba sings of a common shared experience of love, life and humanity, giving all an opportunity to hear the age-old West African tradition of Griot storytelling through song.
Now based in Boston, MA, Boubacar Diabate was born in Bamako, Mali - West Africa to the Diabate clan from the Mandinka lineage. He was raised playing Djembe and Guitar while listening to and learning from the Griot elders as they passed down their ancient heritage through their music and song.
"Bouba" plays and teaches Djembe and West African drum rhythms to private students and in public and private school programs throughout the country when not touring with his group, SambaLolo.
A Griot by Definition:
It is written that when a Griot dies in Africa, a library dies with him. Griots hold the high honor of carrying down the oral tradition of passing on legends, stories, and proverbs through many generations, essential to preserving their culture. In Western African cultures, Griots are depended on by the culture to educate their people of their own history and traditions. Some of the many facets that the Griot have are to entertain and teach the moral lessons of their culture to the children. The Griot, a person who is soaked with his culture's wisdom, also has the duty of preserving their history and keeping traditions alive. A Griot is a teacher, poet, musician, and participant in important ceremonies such as weddings, naming initiations and installations of chiefs.
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