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Alma Afrobeat Ensemble was founded in Chicago in 2003 by guitarist Aaron Feder, and met with some success in a few short years, playing at the legendary Summer Camp Festival, sharing the stage with Chicago Afrobeat Project and the Allman Brothers’ Band bassist Oteil Burbridge, as well as being selected for ...
World Music/Contemporary | World Music/Traditional | Jazz
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Barcelona Afrobeat; Alma Afrobeat Ensemble
Life No Get Dublicate (November 11th, 2014) is Alma Afrobeat Ensemble’s sophomore studio album (and first on Slow Walk Music, Barcelona’s home for African music), and it reflects the evolution of this modern Afrobeat collective. While remaining true to their distinctive take on classic Afrobeat, it also includes bits of M’balax, odd time signatures, and unique instrumentation, and features artwork from Lemi Ghariokwu, who was responsible for the most emblematic album covers for the Afrobeat master and creator, Fela Kuti.
This is a truly international release, reflecting the multicultural origins of Afrobeat and the band itself. The album was recorded in Barcelona, mixed in Madrid and mastered in Boston. Native Chicago guitarist and founder of the band Aaron Feder produced the album with with bassist Dinky Redondo. Babacar Gaye (Senegal), singer, dancer and primary lyricist, flexes his linguistic muscle, singing in Wolof, French, Spanish and English. Tato Sassone (Argentina) provides a unique interpretation of the drum stylings of Tony Allen, and Didier Roch (France) plays a variety of African and Afro-Caribbean percussion instruments, including Djembe, Dundun, and Batá drums. The otherworldly keyboard sounds are from the fingers of Paquito de la Iguana, and the core horn section features a bassoon, saxophones (tenor and alto), and trombone, providing unique voicings and textures. Special guest Farmo (Color Humano, Black Baudelaire) provides a burning harmonica solo on Bursine, while world-renowned Norwegian trumpet player Audun Waage (Jojo Mayer Band, Bearfarm) adds flavor throughout the album.
This album is a powerful and significant step forward for a band that was already regarded as the “best representative of Afrobeat music in Spain” (DJ Floro). They have been touring the Iberian Peninsula and Europe throughout 2014, with their summer adventures finishing in Plaza Catalunya, in the center of Barcelona, to play for 10,000 people on the opening night of La Mercé local festival.