Search - Various Artists :: The Best of Ellipsis Arts - Africa: Never Stand Still

Music That Moves You

M. Allen Greenbaum | California | 01/29/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What a find this is: A joyous, textured, absolutely rocking collection of pan-African music featuring groups from Zimbabwe, Zaire, South Africa, Mali, Madagascar, the Ivory Coast, Sudan, Algeria, Cameroon, Nigeria and Kenya. There are a variety of musical styles, including tuku, "bikitsu rock," soukous, rai, and "benga beats." In addition to tradition Western instruments such as the sax, trumpet, bass, accordion, and electric guitar, there are the goombay (large drum), mbira (thumb piano), valihu (bamboo zither), the oud, and an assortment of percussive instruments.Even if you've never heard much African music, I think you'll enjoy this immensely. If you like jazz, polyrhythmic music, percussion, or even rock, there is much to enjoy. The first few songs are outstanding both as listening and dance music: They're energetic pieces from Zimbabwe and Cameroon that are simply electrifying! Oliver Mtukdzi's "Ndiri Bofu" features bopping bass playing; "Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited" moves with virtuoso thumb piano and compelling call and response vocals; and the percussion of "Za Ayi Neyi" by "Les Tetes Brulees" is riveting. Other highlights include the soulful vocals of South Africa's "Ladysmith Black Mamzabo," the infectious "M'Fono Yami" by Zaire's Papa Wembar; the intricate playing and joyful whoops on Tarika Sammy's valihu piece, "Eh Zalahy (Madagascar), and Lulu Masilela' sax rocking over a background of accordion, guitars, and drums on "Six Mabone" (Six Lights, named after the headlights on big American autos of the 1950's)The intensity and joy will wash over you. Please give this a try, one of my favorite albums in a collection of mostly Western music. The accompanying 22-page booklet gives brief bios of each group, photos, albums on which the songs originally appeared, and--for some songs--lyric samples, list of musicians and instruments. The recording quality is excellent."