ORAN ETKIN: Kelenia
Motéma Music, 2009

WORLD-JAZZ – Israeli-American reeds player with a beautiful, often danceable hybrid of Malian music and jazz (the Bambara word “kelenia” means love between people who are different from each other). No cultural tourism here: Etkin has been exploring this music since he was a teen and it breathes in every note. It’s a glorious mashup, full of positive vibes, shining melodies and warm grooves.

* * * * | All tracks good. Fo’s Picks: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 11

Oran Etkin - clarinets, tenor sax
Balla Kouyate - balafon
Makane Kouyate - calabash, vocals (5,10)
Joe Sanders - bass

Guest Musicians:
Lionel Loueke - guitar (2,4,6)
John Benitez - bass (2,4,6)
Abdoulaye Diabate - vocals (1,3)
Joh Camara - percussion (4,5,10)

1. 3:01 – bright, upbeat ditty: vocal and clarinet slide over bouncy balafon riffs
2. 6:58 – easy walking tempo: bass clarinet solo is expressive and eloquent
3. 5:28 – perky birdlike melody, becomes a happy bounce… passionate vocal
4. 6:22 – relaxed: unusual 9/8 rhythm creates friction, keeps things off-balance
5. 3:58 – sax/vocal call & response, perpetual-motion groove like a work song
6. 7:15 – mysterious melody creeps through a slow walking rhythm
7. 5:18 – oblique but bluesy: full of odd angles and soulful sax slides
8. 4:27 – violin & cello lay a chilly, alien feel on top of lopsided rhythmic circle
9. 3:23 – Duke Ellington gets a whole new rhythm and Africanized texture
10. 4:49 – traditional song: noble intro, relaxed tempo, griot vocal, fast ending
11. 1:23 – stripped down version of #3’s bird theme, just multitracked reeds

[ Fo ] 06/19/09