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If it weren’t for this seminal Senegalese
orchestra it is highly doubtful that the world at large would
have heard such luminaries as the Afro-Cuban All Stars, Grupo
Sierra Maestra, Cheikh Lo or the various Buena Vista offshoots,
among others. It was Orchestra Baobab’s classic Pirate’s
Choice that inspired Nick Gold to start his now famous World Circuit
label and the rest is history. After 17 years together,Orchestra
Baobab disbanded in 1987 due to the popularity of the mbalax craze
which superceded their Afro-latino cum Caribbean style. So it’s
ironic as well as a tribute to the band’s greatness that
mbalax superstar Youssou N’dour should co-produce with Nick
their first album in 20 years since reforming recently.
With the same personnel as the 80’s, including the distinctive
guitar sound of electric guitar maestro Barthelemy Attico and
the langurous, yet smoulderingly powerful sax of Issa Cissokho,
it’s as if the band never went away, evincing that wonderfully
natural melange of Caribbean/latino melody and West African feeling
on Specialist In All Styles which was recorded live in the studio
over a 10 day period. 6 of the 9 pieces are newies though they
fit in perfectly with the relaxed and rolling, yet intensely exciting
sound of one of the most startling comeback releases of recent
world music history.
El Son Te Llama (actually the Cuban son number Amor Verdadero)
is given a reinterpretation almost as intoxicating as the one
that graced the brilliant precursor to Pirate’s Choice, On
Verra Ca. Indeed the new version of that title song gives the
original a run for its money. In a crown of diamonds, the shimmering
centrepiece is possibly a reprise of Utras Horas from Pirate’s
Choice, retitled Hommage a Tonton Ferrer and featuring some superb
choruses from Vista superstar Ibrahim Ferrer and Youssou N’dour,
however it’s all pretty subjective in an album that fairly
bristles with headspinning guitar and sax breaks and stunning
vocals that celebrate the throbbing swing of this unrivalled West
African combo. If the listener disagrees and picks any of the
others as their favourite you won’t hear a peep of disagreement
from me.
