Product Description

Released in England last fall to rapturous reviews, Made In Dakar has landed on many British critics year-end, best-of lists. The Guardian
called Orchestra Baobab masters of an urban style that pairs rippling, fast-flowing guitar lines with impassioned vocals and sophisticated
dance rhythms. These move effortlessly from rumba, reggae and highlife to more indigenous grooves such as mbalax and their own mbalsa, an infectious salsa hybrid heard on the track Ami Kita Bay. The Sunday Times agreed, declaring the group a walking compendium of West African music, saxophones and guitars rocking in rhythm over sinuous percussion. The sleek, jazzed-up funk of Colette - dedicated to Carlos Santana - is the work of a group that, in contrast to some of its rivals, knows no frontiers. London's The Mirror summed up the enthusiasm of both critics and loyal fans: The first album in six years from this bountiful Senegalese collective glitters and tingles with rejuvenating
glee, confirming their status as the jewel in the crown of African pop.

Track Listing

1. Pape Ndiaye
2. Nijaay
3. Beni Baraale
4. Ami Kita Bay
5. Cabral
6. Sibam
7. Aline
8. Nd�leng Nd�leng
9. Jirim
10. Bikowa
11. Colette

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8669 in Music
• Released on: 2008-05-20
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .24 pounds

Amazon.com
Senegal’s Orchestra Baobab, having triumphed over changing tastes and a 16-year hiatus, are back with Made in Dakar, their first studio album since 2002's Specialist In All Styles. Featuring guest vocals from their world-renowned countrymen Youssou Ndour and Africando's Medoune Diallo, the set list encompasses songs from ancient griot sources ("Pape Ndiaye"), tributes to departed colleagues ("Nijaay"), Portuguese Creole influences from Guineau Bissau ("Ami Kita Bay"), sixties-era Congolese soukous ("Aline"), and Baobab's own mbalsa, which combines Ndour’s groundbreaking mbalax groove with salsa. But in any context, Baobab's Latin-North African-Afropop fusion never fails to emerge in the forefront, crowned by bandleader Barthélemy Attisso’s borderline psychedelic lead guitar, smoldering brass, percussion and vocal arrangements and always, a soulful way with a Cuban clavé. Hearing Ndour singing with the band he once inadvertently put out of business is an especially moving experience, as is the wonderful cover of "Beni Baraale," a Bembeya Jazz of Guinée standard, and Medoune Diallo’s peerless solo turn, which could melt a heart of stone. But with music of this quality, it’s pointless to list highlights. These guys never, ever mess up so picking favorites is a purely subjective exercise. Not to be missed, under any circumstances. --Christina Roden

Customer Reviews

Another Masterpiece
I haven't been buying much new music lately and hadn't even realized this had been released. I just happened to catch Orchestra Baobab performing live at a small club at the recent Montreal Jazz Festival and was lucky enough to hear some of the tracks on this disk performed live the first time I heard them. The show was just incredible and the tracks from "Made in Dakar" were definitely among the highlights of the show for me. I've been listening to "Specialist In All Styles" and "Pirates Choice" constantly since they were released and there are tracks on this disk that are even better than anything on those two outstanding recordings. Since picking up the new disk, I keep wearing my iPod battery down replaying "Pape Ndiaye," "Nijaay," "Colette" and "Aline." This is a great recording and if you have any interest in African music, pick it up!

propulsive, dynamic music
Like the previous reviewer, I did not hesitate in buying Baobob's "Made in Dakar" I have all their available releases. This music is never far from my players..car or home. If they dont get you groovin and movin ,you are dead.

fabulous again
once again the orchestra baobab has done it. ever since i stumbled across their first release and then the pirates choice i have been hooked on this festive sound. when i saw this in the store there was absolutely no hesitation but to grab it and run to buy it so i could get home and play it. do i know any the players or what they play? no. do i know any of the words? no. does it matter that much? no. this is music that you put on and you just enjoy for whatever it is that they do and what they do is make wonderful music. would i recommend it to any and all? well the five stars should speak for itself. the guitar work, the percussion, the horns all combine into a very moving beat that pulls you willingly along. the vocals are very expressive and it all works extremely well this time too just as the other cds have. you will not regret buying this.