On the 27th of October I went to the CD launch of Sibo Bangoura’s new album, Keyim Ba in the Vanguard in Newtown.
Image:Rozario
Strategicly located in Newtown, mid-way on my daily 370 bus ride home, I felt like every effort was being made to enhance my experience and I hadn’t even walked in the door yet.
Even though I haven’t been in Sydney very long, I’m already beginning to pick out a few familiar faces.
Declan Kelly was the opening act and I pretty digged what he was doing. His music seems to be heavily percussive. His buddy on stage was playing a sweeet Bougarabou, while he swapped between the Guitar and djembe. It was his singing that really made the difference though….
His style is kind of chanty, simple and a tad repetitious. I’m sure he’s been heavily influenced my African singing in his music…
Declan did a good job of warming up the crowd and there were great cheers as Sibo took the stage.
Sibo started off with a few words of welcome and thanks and told the story of how the album was recorded and how it wouldn’t be possible without his friend and mentor Boka Camara.
He explained how he felt joyful at the successfull completion of the project, but sad that Boka would would never hear it.
We were then treated to a 1 minute video clip of Boca playing during the recording of the album, followed by a minute’s silence in memory of him.
The first track of the night was the first track off the new album Wule (it’s not right to lie of talk behind someone). Malin Sylla did a great job on the vocals while playing Kora, while Aicha Keita’s voice in the chorus really helped rock what is a totally catchy tune.
I have only since listened to the album, but it would seem that all, if not most of the tracks were from the CD.
I think it’s a safe enough bet that Zaouli is one of Sibo’s favourite tracks and he really rocked out on it… It’s the fastest Zaouli I’ve ever heard and the breaks were not ones I’m familiar with. Sibo says it took him a week to learn the last break and that this rhythm is really one that makes him think of Boca…
Throughout the night Mohamed Bangoura was a great right hand man and was handing out slaps and tones like it was nobody’s business.
As usual (around Sydney) Mory Traore and Aicha were dancing their socks off and later on Rachel Bangoura and her students came out to dance some Soli…
On Keyim Ba, there is an adapted Sabar which is a rhythm of the Wolof in Senegambia. We were lucky enough to have it performed by some real Sabarians Papa M’Baye and Tias M’Baye.
All in all it was a great night and I felt lucky to have so many quality musicians on my bus trip home on Tuesday. More of that sort of thing!
