Born in 1934, the tenor saxophonist, flautist, organist & vocalist Kélétigui Traoré did much to shape the authenticity movement & led one its most inventive bands, the Tambourinis. He died aged 74 in autumn 2008. May he rest in peace.
This collection tells the sonic story of Kélétigui et ses Tambourinis from their first recordings as the ‘Orchestre de la Paillote’, on through to their full flowering as they magnificently integrate national and international influences, right up to their swan-song recording of 1976 when, with drastic personnel alterations, they made their final trip to the studio.
Even if you’ve been avidly collecting vinyl releases on the Guinean Syliphone label and CD reissues from Bolibana, Melodie and Syllart, it is unlikely that you’ll be fully prepared for the delights tucked away in this final edition of Stern’s series. Several of the 32 tracks have never been released on CD before.
Many of Keletigui’s recordings abound with delightful Cuban flavour, as well as jazz and even psychedelic pop experimentation – particularly in the stellar guitar work. Added into the mix are elements of West African highlife and Congolese rumba – with some of Linke Condé’s guitar licks sounding as impressive as Docteur Nico’s groundbreaking work with the groups African Jazz and African Fiesta.
Though the Tambourinis' line-up was packed with innovative and accomplished musicians, the band's success was due in large measure to the playing of Kélétigui Traoré himself. A muscular tenor saxophonist who combined a broad, vocalized, vibrato tone with an attractively lyrical improvising style, Traoré also played sprightly, Cuban-influenced flute and was a fine vocalist and organist; he was the first bandleader in Guinea to use the keyboard, which he frequently arranged alongside the country's traditional wooden xylophone, the gourd-amplified balafon. Whatever the instrumentation for a song, Traoré's arrangements were fresh and imaginative, combining roots instruments, rhythms and songs with jazz and Cuban musics, and featuring an exceptional, close-harmony horn section.
Other engaging soloists in the Tambourinis include elektrique guitarist Linke Condé and saxophonists Bigne Doumbia and Momo Soumah. The percussion section is drawn from the cream of Guinean roots musicians, including balafon player Lansana Diabate & hand drummers Keletigui Kourouma and Papa Kouyate.
daps due Ibiza for this blistering 320k rip. r.i.p. Kélétigui Traoré , 1934-2008
