Afro-Cubism is the fruition of the World Circuit label's original intention for Buena Vista Social Club album, which was to have been a stellar collaboration of musicians from Mali and Cuba. In 1996, the African contingent of Bassekou Kouyate and Djeliomady Tounkara claimed they couldn't get visas and so the label used the studio time to record the Buena Vista album, and the Rueben Gonzalez one, and the Afro-Cuban All Stars' first album, a trio of classics. (Another story has it that the Africans were offered a better paying gig at home - if so, bad call, gents, as the Buena Vista album has sold many millions by now...)
Now the original plan has finally been realised with first-time invitees Cuban singer/guitarist Eliades Ochoa and the Malians Bassekou Kouyate (ngoni) and Djelimady Tounkara (electric guitar) joined by Eliades' Grupo Patria and Toumani Diabaté (kora), Kasse Mady Diabaté (vocals) and Lassana Diabaté (balafon).
The video below shows the first teaser of the album, to be released this autumn. Sounds like another monster hit.
Add comment