Reviewed by Mwende Hahsey
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Orchestra Baobab - “Pirates Choice” (CD NONE 022)
It’s a shame that it took nearly twenty years for Orchestra Baobabs “Pirates Choice” to be available to music lovers in the U.S. Now that it’s here, audiences can finally be introduced to the dance bands perfect blend of lush guitar styles and light, breezy vocals all laid over funky afro-cuban beats. Most American ears will probably be shocked to hear lyrics sung, not only in Wolof, but Spanish and French with familiar jazz rhythms. When listening to the album you get a sense that the band, who was based out of the international port city of Dakar in the 1980’s, was highly attuned to all of the best music from around the world that passed through. “Pirates Choice” is a lesson in globalization: Sounds, styles, and rhythms that are often generalized and attributed to Latin American or Western music are brought back home to West Africa and revisited- becoming something new and different once again.
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1 comment:
Unequivocally one of my favorite albums in my personal collection. I serendipitously stumbled across this album, while killing time at a regional library in Cleveland, Ohio. Between 2005 and 2006, I definitely had Pirates Choice in my music listening rotation more than any other cd in my collection.
Pirates Choice is Orchestra Baobob's magnum opus. It is a timeless classic! Do yourself the favor and listen to this album.
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