Miro gets 4* Songlines review

Songlines Jan Issue 2012

Seckou Keita Miro Astar (48 mins)

Well-travelled griot keeps the home fires burning

Seckou Keita is representative of a new breed of African musician for whom the world really has become a global village. Born into a griot family in the Casamance region of Senegal, he now lives in Nottingham, and recorded this album in six countries across three continents, from Dakar to Havana and from Seville to Bogota. The opening track ‘Rewmi’ (Country) was a popular anthem calling for unity during the Senegalese elections earlier this year, with Keita’s rippling kora work and sturdy voice underpinned by female backing vocals, calabash and the throbbing pulse of Cuban bass player Michel ‘Pata’ Salazar. ‘Hino’ finds the Spanish singer Inma ‘La Carbonera’ delivering a characteristically passionate flamenco vocal in duet with the soulful, Arabic-tinged voice of Mohamed Diaby over Keita’s lovely solo kora. Salazar returns again on ‘Kouma’, a tour de force on which he’s joined by Colombian percussion, flute and balafon. Yet the album is far from being a global mishmash of styles. Rather it beats strongly with a sense of unity of purpose, rooted in both Mandinka and Wolof traditions, so that however far Keita’s musical travels take him, his proud griot heritage journeys with him.

TRACK TO TRY: Kouma

Nigel Williamson

Depth Drop Digital Release: 12 November

 Depth Drop and Sign Of The Dub by AMJ, previously only available as a 7" single, is now being released digitally.

Use the player above to order your copy!

RSD re-mix tracks from the AMJ Collective …..

Dub Maestro Rob Smith is no stranger to innovative sonic adventures, a Bristol man who emerged from the reggae scene of the 80s as a guitarist and engineer, later developing his craft as a producer, DJ and re-mixer. Known for his work in Smith & Mighty and More Rockers, now piloting his own unique RSD sound, Rob tours constantly, performing in many countries across the globe.

The trio that is AMJ, Andy Clarke (drums), Mark Spence (bass) and John Hollis (producer) have been building their new project called The Almighty Groove,  inviting a Collective of musicians from different places (Cuba, Colombia, Senegal etc) to record on their sessions - acoustic instruments and live performance being a main feature of the work.

 AMJ meets RSD is a new collaboration and Depth Drop the first single …..

Invited to delve into the AMJ Treasure Trove, Rob draws on his pallet of sounds and effects to take the imagination large. Warm and bass heavy, enter a world of sonic delight …..

Miro gets a 4* review in The Guardian

Robin Denselow   
The Guardian, Thursday 4 October 2012 22.30 BST   

Following the debut set by those rousing London-based Ethiopians, Krar Collective, here's another reminder of the great African music currently to be found in the UK. Seckou Keita lives in Nottingham, but was born into a griot family in Casamance, in the south of Senegal, where he was taught kora and percussion by his grandfather and uncles. He's a fine instrumentalist and singer-songwriter, and his distinctive, gently driving style is influenced both by his West African roots and international travels. So on the opening track Rewmi (Country), his fluid, rippling kora work is matched by sturdy backing from the Cuban bass player Michel "Pata" Salazar, guitars and calabash, and insistent vocals from Keita, Mariama Kouyate and his sister Binta Suso, while the song itself is a call for unity that was popular in Senegal during the elections earlier this year. Elsewhere, he shows off his instrumental work on the drifting instrumental Distance, and is joined by flamenco singer Inma "La Carbonera" for the passionate flamenco-kora workout, Hino. A classy, often gently mesmeric set.   

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/oct/04/seckou-keita-miro-review

 

Seckou Keita: Miro album released

We are very proud to announce that Seckou Keita's brand new album "Miro" is now available on iTunes and all other digital retailers. The actual CD will be available in the shops and on Amazon from the 8th October (although anyone going to the live shows will be able to get their's a little bit early... and get it signed too!). Please use the player to listen to previews of all the tracks and press the links below it to buy the album from your favourite store..

SECKOU KEITA & THE BANTAMBA SYNDICATE One Off Spectacular!

Seckou delivers a one-off spectacular featuring artists from 8 West African nations.
In the Mandinka language Bantamba is a tree around and under which the community gathers,
a meeting place where people can communicate, listen to each other, settle conflicts and discuss important matters ….

SECKOU KEITA Senegal KORA, VOICE, DJEMBE
ADAMA BILOROU DEMBELE Burkina Faso BALAFON, CONGAS, DJEMBE
ALFRED BANNERMAN Ghana ELECTRIC & ACOUSTIC GUITARS
BINTA SUSO Gambia VOICE
DRAMANE DEMBELE Burkina Faso FLUTE
FANTA YAYO Guinea Conakry VOICE
GUIMBA KOUYATE Mali NGONI
MANECAS COSTA Guinea Bissau VOICE & ACOUSTIC GUITAR
MARIAMA KOUYATE Senegal VOICE
MICHEL PADRON Cuba TRUMPET
MICHEL 'PATA' SALAZAR Cuba BASS
NII BOYE OWOO Ghana VOICE
SUNTOU SUSSO Gambia CALABASH, HI-HAT, DUN DUNS
TAPHA GAYE Senegal ELECTRIC GUITAR
TAPHA N'DIONGUE Senegal DRUM KIT
THOMAS OLA Ivory Coast SAXOPHONE & KEYBOARDS

http://www.btriverofmusic.com/artist/seckou-keita

Toto announces European Tour

15 Julio, Stuttgart, Sommerfestival der Kulturen
 
16 Julio, Assago, Latinoamericando Festival
 
17 Julio, Munich, Club Ampere
 
20 Julio, Koblenz, Horizonte Weltkultur festival
 
21 Julio , Berlin, Wassermusik Summer Open Air Festival
 
22 Julio, Malmo, Sommerscene
 
23 Julio, Estocolmo , Sodra Teatern
 
26 Julio, Madrid , Salsa y Latín Jazz Festival
 
28 Julio , Vic Fesenzac, Tempo Latino Festival

 
Única presentación en España en el marco del Salsa y Latín Jazz Festival,
compartiendo cartel junto a Rubén Blades y Calle13,
el 26 de Julio en el Madrid Arena .
 
“Algo que tengo muy claro en cuanto mi herencia musical es que la música es como el hombre: Debe crecer y no quedarse en un museo o en lamentaciones”.
Sonia Bazanta Vides tiene una sonrisa sincera, contagiante y una mirada limpia llena de espiritualidad, de amor por la música tradicional y por la cultura colombiana.  Totó La Momposina, como se le conoce artísticamente, tiene una energía desbordante en su potente voz, con la que ha hecho vibrar a millones de espectadores desde hace ya 50 años, tiempo en el que se ha consolidado como la pionera y mayor representante de la música tradicional de Colombia en el mundo.
Totó y sus músicos trabajan en recuperar, mezclar y crear nuevas expresiones de la música tradicional, a través de la mezcla de instrumentos y sentimientos de las diferentes regiones del país en un sonido, en un solo canto de identidad cultural colombiana. Aún hoy ella, es la inspiración para músicos, intérpretes y diversos artistas que llevan como ella, la voz de nuestro país al resto del mundo.

Seckou releases Miro in September

SECKOU KEITA NEWS FLASH!
 
The album Miro will be released in September and Seckou will be touring the UK in the autumn with a new band, dates will be announced soon.
An EP download entitled Rewmi comes out on June 4th featuring 3 tracks from the album.
Seckou is delivering a show representing 8 African nations for the Cultural Olympiad in July, as part of the BT River of Music event.
In short Seckou Keita is an artist to watch in 2012 …… stay tuned!

Adan Wins a Lennon!

We are proud to announce that Adan Pedroso has won a Lennon award for his song Romantica. For more information you can visint the award site http://www.jlsc.com/winners/2011b/lennon_awards.php Previously only available on the Asere album "Destinos" and Adan's solo album "Esa Flor", we will be releasing a special Romantica package shortly with all versions of this much recorded song from over the years. Watch this space for a release date!  

Cimarron wins four nominations at the Independent Music Awards 2012

Cimarron, with the album Cimarron: Joropo Music from The Plains of Colombia, won four nominations at the Independent Music Awards 2012 (Best Album, Best Song Latin, Instrumental Best Song, Best Music Video), becoming the first artist of traditional music from Colombia to achieve such recognition in international awards.

More than 300 exceptional independent artists were nominated in the 11th. Annual publication of the Independent Music Awards 2012, the most influential awards program for the independent music scene.

Winners will be chosen by a jury of 77 influential artists and personalities from the music industry, among which include Keith Richards, Tom Waits, Ozzy Osbourne, Kathleen Brennan, Suzanne Vega, Joshua Redman, Tori Amos, Michael Franti, Bettye LaVette , Del McCoury, Shelby Lynne, Alan Light, Kevin Lyman, Bill Bragin, Sara Beesley, Chris Diaz and Evan Schlansky, who announce the results in April 2012.

 

 

Cimarrón, con su álbum !Cimarrón! Joropo Music from The Plains of Colombia, grabado para Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, logró cuatro nominaciones en los Independent Music Awards 2012 (Mejor Álbum, Mejor Canción Latin, Mejor Canción Instrumental, Mejor Video Musical), constituyéndose en el primer artista de música tradicional de Colombia en alcanzar tal reconocimiento en una edición de premios internacionales.

Más de 300 excepcionales artistas independientes fueron nominados en la 11º. Edición anual de los Independent Music Awards 2012, el más influyente programa de premios para las producciones artísticas de la escena musical independiente.

Representando el amplio espectro de la escena global de la música independiente,  los nominados en cerca de setenta categorías de Álbum, Canción, Video Musical y Diseño y concepto de Álbum fueron seleccionados de entre miles de propuestas enviadas desde Norte América, Sur América, Asia, África, Australia y Europa.

Los ganadores serán escogidos por un jurado integrado por 77 influyentes artistas y personalidades de la industria musical, entre los que se cuentan Keith Richards,Tom Waits, Ozzy Osbourne, Kathleen Brennan, Suzanne Vega, Joshua Redman, Tori Amos, Michael Franti, Bettye LaVette, Del McCoury,, Shelby Lynne, Alan Light, Kevin Lyman, Bill Bragin, Sara Beesley, Chris Diaz y Evan Schlansky, quienes oficializarán los resultados en abril de 2012.

Toumani Diabate & Catrin Finch - Sublime Triumph!

Last week the kora-harp collaboration with Toumani Diabate and Catrin Finch received standing ovations at sold-out shows in Wales.
Due to the Coup D'etat in Mali Toumani had to make a tremendous effort to come and difficulties en route meant that he and Catrin only met four hours before the first performance. It is a tribute to the awesome talent of these musicians that they were able to take this show onto a sublime level from day one and build across the five shows creating a unique sonic experience between these instruments. We have all agreed to now take this show to the world and develop the project. Thanks to them and to a great production team for an amazing week, also to Seckou Keita who came at short notice to help Catrin and the Astar-Mwldan producers prepare the show whilst they were waiting for Toumani's arrival, Seckou also appeared as special guest at two of the performances. Special indeed!

 

Totó La Momposina, nombrada "Ciudadana andina honorífica"

Totó La Momposina fue nombrada "Ciudadana andina honorífica" de la Comunidad Andina (CAN) "en reconocimiento a su trayectoria artística y su aporte al fortalecimiento de la identidad cultural regional", informó el organismo integrador.

La condecoración fue otorgada el viernes en la sede de la secretaría general de la CAN en Lima, en una ceremonia en la que participaron la ministra consejera de la embajada de Colombia en Perú, Estela Luz Sotelo; el director general de la Secretaría General de la CAN, Santiago Cembrano, y el secretario general de la CAN, Adalid Contreras.

Totó la Momposina, cuyo nombre real es Sonia Bazanta Vides, reconoció "la virtud del arte en general y la música en particular de unir a los seres humanos y despertar sus virtudes".

Cembrano manifestó, por su parte, que la cantante colombiana "ha realizado un importantísimo aporte a la divulgación de los ritmos, instrumentos y elementos autóctonos de la música colombiana, en especial la de sus zonas costeras".

"Nosotros queremos seguir uniendo a cuatro países hermanos (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador y Perú) entre sí y con el resto de América Latina, generando posibilidades para el progreso y el desarrollo, y usted ya ha logrado unirnos a través de la música y sus interpretaciones", le dijo Cembrano.

Totó La Momposina llegó Lima para participar en el concierto "Festival de los 7 mares", en el que también se presentará el franco-español Manu Chao y los nacionales Bareto, La Sarita y Sabor y control.