Bembeya Jazz / African Classics
Album: African Classics   Collection:World
Artist:Bembeya Jazz   Added:Feb 2008
Label:Sheer Sound  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2008-05-11 Pull Date: 2008-07-13 Charts: Reggae/World
Week Ending: Jul 13 Jul 6 Jun 29 Jun 15 Jun 8 Jun 1 May 25 May 18
Airplays: 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 1

Recent Airplay
1. Jan 20, 2022: Some Songs Without Words (rebroadcast from Jan 5, 2022)
Petit Sekou
4. Aug 23, 2014: Music Casserole
Petit Sekou
2. Jan 05, 2022: Some Songs Without Words
Petit Sekou
5. Jul 08, 2008: At the Cafe Bohemian
Petit Sekou
3. Jun 28, 2017: At the Cafe Bohemian
Lanaya
6. Jul 04, 2008: No Cover, No Minimum
Lanaya

Album Review
Decca
Reviewed 2008-05-10
Bembeya Jazz Nacional was founded in 1961 in Beyla, Guinea. It’s delicious guitar-driven Afro-pop-jazz with some Cuban spice thrown in. Plus wicked good percussion, horns, vocals, and lots of funky style. This release is a sort of “best of” from their classic years and recording quality is not the best, many tracks have an old-timey mono sound.

1. Midtempo Afro-funk with sharp brass work.
*2. Relaxed tempo, a tinny old-radio sound.
3. Midtempo, soaring vocals, guitar, perc.
*4. Relaxed funk w/a hip 70s vibe. Picks up later.
5. Big, brassy intro. Upbeat Afro pop funk.
*6. Mid/uptempo w/some cool vocals & great style.
7. Downtempo, almost lazy meandering Afro pop.
*8. Sexy midtempo Afro-Cuban dance.
9. An 18:30-minute epic. Starts upbeat & bright, varys tempo. Includes everything from shades of Hendrix to shimmery Afro funk.


Track Listing
1. Telegramme   5. Koumba Terin
2. Lanaya   6. Sabu
3. Yekeke   7. Gnagna
4. Petit Sekou   8. Yarabi
  9. Montagne