Issa Bagayogo "Sya" (Six Degrees/Cobalt Records, 1998)

Issa Bagayogo "Timbuktu" (Six Degrees Records, 2002)

Issa Bagayogo "Tassoumakan" (Six Degrees Records, 2004)
Malian kora player Issa Bagayogo, who hails from the southerwestern Wassoulou region, embraces modern pop production without falling into the exoticization trap that plagued kora crossovers in years past... That is, his playing isn't randomly tacked onto some generic dance tracks, and instead there's a cohesive, organic feel to the work, driven by Bagayogo's melodic drive and not-too-mellow vibe. Singing in French and in his native Bambara, Bagayogo is a gentle, guiding figure amid a tightly crafted pop sound. It's a little on the slick side for my personal tastes, but I think most African pop fans will find a lot to enjoy here... Check it out!

Issa Bagayogo "Mali Koura" (Six Degrees Records, 2008)

Balla Et Ses Balladins "Reminiscin' In Tempo With..." (Popular African Music, 1993)
A gorgeous collection of classic early '70s material from one of the great Guinean guitar bands... This disc mostly draws on the Balladins Objectif Perfection album, but also includes a few tracks from other albums as well. The Balladins band came out of the mid-'60s dissolution of a larger band, and went through a fluid membership which included many members of the Diabate and Kouyate clans, as well as vocalist Manfila Kante, who sings throughout this disc. The band was also briefly known as 'Pivi Et Ses Balladins,' (as heard on the fabulous GUINEA '70s collections), but throughout, their fabulous, richly melodic guitar style prevailed. The mellow, hypnotic rhythmic base may be what you notice about these recordings, but the virtuosity of the guitars is truly amazing. I love the way this music sounds -- it's so beautiful and soulful, and so joyful and complete. Highly recommended.

Balla Et Ses Balladins "The Syliphone Years" (Stern's Africa, 2008)

Les Bantous De La Capitale "1963/1969" (Sonodisc, 1999)

Les Bantous De La Capitale "1974-1976" (Sonodisc, 1997)

Les Bantous De La Capitale "Les Grands Succes Des Les Bantous De La Capitale, v.1" (Sonodisc)

Les Bantous De La Capitale "Les Grands Succes Des... v.2" (Sonodisc)

Les Bantous De La Capitale "Les Grands Succes Des... v.3" (Sonodisc)

Les Bantous De La Capitale "Les Grands Succes Des... v.4" (Sonodisc)

Les Bantous De La Capitale "Les Grands Succes Des... v.5" (Sonodisc)

Les Bantous De La Capitale "Rosalie Diop" (Sonodisc)

Les Bantous De La Capitale "Bakolo Mboka" (Canto Records, 2008)

Bantu, Featuring Ayuba "Fuji Satisfaction: Soundclash In Lagos" (Piranha Records, 2005)
Contemporary Nigerian pop known as "fuji" music, which picks up where juju and afrobeat left off... This new, hyper, hybrid incorporates hip-hop and raggamuffin reggae, two styles that I'm not that into, so I guess I might not be the right guy to ask about this album. It didn't do much for me, although I could tell that this group was pretty good, for the genre. Just not my cup of tea.

Baobab - see Orchestre Baobab

Blick Bassy "Leman" (Four Quarters Records, 2009)
(Produced by Jean-Louis Solans & Jean Lamoot)
A super-mellow acoustic-pop debut from this wispy Cameroonian crooner. The style is descended from crossover-y superstars such as Salif Keita and Youssou N'Dour, although Bassy seems content to linger amid less adventurous arrangements, crafting quiet, lulling tunes full of gentle rhythms and demure sprinklings of African instruments such as the kora and calabash. The style suits his voice, which is calm almost to the point of retiring. It's a pretty-sounding record that many will find rich as well as relaxing -- a little too soft and pop for my tastes, but like so many albums, the more I listen, the more I like. Definitely worth checking out.

Waldemar Bastos "Angola Minha Namorada" (EMI, 1990)
An Angolan-Congolese expatriate living in Portugal, Waldemar Bastos is one of the most creative modern Angolan artists. On this early album, he finds himself a bit mismatched with a mix of standard-issue African pop (in the Parisian mold) and more ambitious, but profoundly irritating, orchestral pop and experimental folk stylings. None of it is suited to his strengths, which come out best in the quieter moments. If you enjoyed his better-known Pretaluz, this might be worth checking out... but I can't say as I would recommend it.

Waldemar Bastos "Pitanga Madura" (EMI)

Waldemar Bastos "Pretaluz" (Luaka Bop Records, 1998)
Quite lovely! Bastos co-produced this lovely album with the help of Arto Lindsay, whose delicate touch is easy to spot. This is a perfect mix of acoustic balladry and the driving, ringing guitar styles of West Africa. It's gorgeous from start to finish, but also lulling and captivatingly subtle. One of Luaka Bop's best artist albums -- highly recommended!

Waldemir Bastos "Renascence" (Times Square Records, 2005)
A fine Afro-Pop album by this Angolan expatriate... It's been a while since we've heard from Bastos, and this album -- his first made since visiting his native Angola in 2003, after an absence of twenty-plus years -- was well worth the wait. Bastos has reconnected with his native land and sings, in Portuguese and other tongues, of his hope for renewal and a bright future... His voice is starting to show the years, sagging a little and cracking around the edges, but his emotion is easy to hear, a plaintive mix of sorrow and joy. On first blush, this record seemed a bit conventional, but subsequent auditions brought out the subtlety and gracefulness that characterized Bastos's earlier albums, and it'll definitely grow on you. Bastos works through a variety of African styles, moving effortlessly between soft acoustic material akin to the wistful mornas of Cape Verde and more buoyant, electrified guitar music typical of West Africa. The only dud on the album comes at end, with a loud, intrusive raggamuffin rap (with guest vocals by Chaka Demus) that comes booming and bursting in after along, luxurious, set of markedly quiet, seductive tunes. So, skip that last jarring track, and you'll love this album... But ya gotta remember to keep your fingers on the pause button!

Sam Batcho "Ndol'asu: New Makassi" (Sonodisc, 1995)

Sam Batcho & Babo Elimbi "Makassi Dance" (Sonodisc, 1987)
Mechanically produced, but surprisingly soulful, this featured a strictly synths-and-drum machine sound, but a tight, sprightly sense of melody and infectiously bouncy rhythms... at least on the first few tracks... Midway through, it gets a bit slack, and even sappy on a tune or two. Mostly, though, this is fun... Cameroonian singer Sam Batcho originally came from the Sam Fan Thomas band; his hangdog vocal style is kind of distinctive, and his bouncy phrasing fits in well with the ebullient makassi style... These songs aren't magical or evocative, but they are intriguing... Worth picking up, though you needn't go to great lengths to track it down.

Batucadeiras De Rincon "Cap-Vert: Batuco De l'Ile De Santiago" (Inedit/MCM Records, 2004)
A very different kind of Cape Verdean music here... Instead of the languid, melodic mornas that made Cesaria Evora a star, this album highlights the starker batuco ("drumming") style practiced by the women of Rincon village on the island of Santiago. It's much like the sambas de roda (circle sambas) of Bahia, Brazil -- plain, informal, street-corner percussion with a circle of women singing a call-and-response chant with one of them leading the group. The batuco singers often make their songs up on the spot, commenting on daily comings and goings, feckless husbands, bad weather, etc. In fact, one of the songs on this disc is a ditty made up about the recording of the album, making reference in the lyrics to the folklorist who set the sessions up... This music is probably too raw for most casual world-music fans, but for the right listeners, I'm sure it is deeply fascinating.

Bau "Top D'Coroa" (Lusafrica Records, 1994)

Bau "Jailza" (Lusafrica Records, 1995)

Bau "Inspiracao" (Lusafrica/Tinder Records, 2000)
Rufino Almeida (aka Bau) is Cesaria Evora's guitar player, the architect of many of the best-known melodic flourishes in the Cape Verdean canon. Here, on an all-instrumental album, he follows in the pattern set by singer Fantcha, hedging his bets by alternating stately, gorgeous, fado-based numbers with bouncier, Gipsy Kings-style upbeat tracks. As a result, the first half of this album is a little schizophrenic -- just as you start to settle into the calm, reflective groove of the slower ballads, along comes a slightly jarring, perky pop tune. For the second half of the album, though, we're treated to a series of gorgeous, relaxing mornas -- pure, simple and sweet. Well worth checking out.

Bau "Blimundo" (Lusafrica Records, 2001)

Bau "Cape Verdean Melancholy" (Evolver Records, 2003)

Bau "Silencio" (Lusafrica Records, 2004)

Bau "Ilha Azul" (Lusafrica Records, 2006)

Francis Bebey - see artist discography

Mbilia Bel - see artist discography

Bembeya Jazz "10 Ans De Succes" (Syllart Records, 2000)
Bee-yoo-tee-ful West African guitar music, from one of the premiere bands of Guinea's glorious pop scene of the 1960s and '70s. Long, beautiful, fluid guitar lines will have you entranced from start to finish, with gentle vocals and rhythm... some of the most compelling, gorgeous music you'll ever hear! Highly recommended.

Bembeya Jazz "Hommage A Demba Camara" (Syllart Records, 2000)

Bembeya Jazz "Bembeya" (World Village Records, 2003)
It's been nearly fifteen years since their last album, but Guinea's veteran supergroup, the newly-reformed Bembeya Jazz, prove themselves as capable and sweet-sounding an Afropop band as any out there today. This new set, featuring several veteran players and some new recruits, isn't as eerie or electrifying as their signature work from the 'Sixties and early '70s, but it's still pretty darn good. Recommended, particularly for fans of cascading, melodic guitars.

Bembeya Jazz "African Classics" (Cantos, 2006)

Bembeya Jazz "The Syliphone Years" (Syllart/Cantos, 2004)
A fab 2-CD set collecting their best early work...

Gaby Lita Bembo & Orchestre Stukas "Kita Mata ABC" (RetroAfric Records, 2005)
An interesting set of late '70s/early '80s recordings featuring Zairean vocalist Gaby Lita Bembo and the Orchestre Stukas... This album gathers several singles, some of which were recorded with lamentably lo-fi production, but all of which have stunning musicianship, particularly the guitar work of Samunga Tediangaye (who I believe is on at least some of these tracks). These 1974-83 recordings were wildly influential, and gve some impression of the legendary dynamism of the band, and of Bembo in particular. Worth checking out, although the sound quality may be disappointing.

Big Voice Jack "Colours And Moods" (Gallo Records, 1996)

Big Voice Jack "Zimanukwenzeka (Things Just Happen)" (Sheer Sound Records, 2003)
The South African kwela, or pennywhistle -- one of my favorite instruments -- taken into the modern era, but still with a lot of the old-fashioned sound of the 1950s when it was still quite popular. The band, Big Voice Jack, backs the elderly Louis Mhlanga, one of the last great kwela players, and while some of the modern sounds that are draped around him inch towards the mbaqanga pop style, mostly this retains the buoyant feel of the olden days. Nice record... worth checking out!

BLO "Chapters & Phases -- The Complete Albums: 1973-1975" (Rev-Ola Records, 1987)
A reissue of two albums by Nigerian funk band BLO, Chapter One, from 1973 and 1975's Phase II.

Afel Bocoum "Alkibar" (Nonesuch Records, 1999)
A young protege of Ali Farka Toure, Bocoum infuses the familiar Malian griot style with a dreamy, intricately-layered ambient production. A very strong release which avoids the pitfalls of the Parisian school of overproduced African pop, this disc has plenty of nuances to reward repeat listenings. Highly recommended, although (as with many Malian records) it may also be a little monochromatic when listened to from start to finish...

Afel Bocoum "Mali Music" (Honest Jon's Records, 2002)
Playing host to Damon Albarn during the visiting British rock star's West African sojourn, Bocoum booked some studio time and together they crafted this fine, subtle update of the classic Malian pop sound. Up-to-date rock and electronica influences are at the heart of this album, blending nicely with the multi-layered Malian soul. Toumani Diabate plays kora, and Albarn is in the mix as well... Nothing sounds forced or grafted on -- it's a skillful, organic meeting of minds... I think Albarn really "gets" African pop, and he and Bocoum were able to jam together without it sounding like anyone was slumming or just punching the clock. Pretty cool.

Bole 2 Harlem "Volume One" (Sounds Of The Mushroom, 2006)
Now, these people know how to party!! Modernized Ethiopian groove mixed with good, old-fashioned New York-style, hip-hoppish block-party funk... This is one of the hardest-driving, most dance-provoking, utterly satisfying cross-cultural mash-ups I've heard in years, with a solid groove that sounds unlike anything I've heard before. It's original, energetic and exhilarating, and doesn't let up from the first track to the last. Definitely worth checking out!

Bonga - see artist discography

Henri Bowane "Double Take - Tala Kaka" (RetroAfric Records, 1994)
A great record, tracing the roots of the hypnotic ju-ju style popularized by King Sunny Ade... In the 1950s, guitarist Henri Bowane was the bandleader of the Congo's Loningisa Studios, and guided the career of the great pop star Franco; in the '60s he worked with Ry-Co Jazz, and later with Sam Mangwana. This is the first release of Bowane's only solo album, recorded in 1976 and shelved for many years. It's groovy stuff, full of ringing guitars and a clear James Brown influence in the driving, back beat-heavy rhythm. Highly recommended!

Segun Bucknor "Poor Man No Get Brother -- Assembly & Revolution: 1969-1974" (Strut Records, 2002)
Early '70s Nigerian funk, with a heavy, heavy debt to James Brown's Bootsy-era jams. This disc collects music from two incarnations of Bucknor's band, the first being the Assembly, and the second, the more politically inclined Revolution. Like Fela Kuti, Bucknor saw music as a way to attract people to politics (and politics as a way to attract people to music), and many songs have an interesting socially conscious component. Overall, this collection sounds pretty static, with one song after another "staying on the one," in the James Brown style, but it's still a pretty cool document of a little-known chapter in African pop history.

Segun Bucknor "Who Say I Tire" (Vampisoul Records, 2010)

Buika "Nina De Fuego" (Warner Music Latina, 2008)
(Produced by Javier Limon)
Spanish singer Concha Buika has an interesting pedigree: her family were African immigrants but she grew up around Spanish gypsies, and has incorporated various modern and traditional styles in her music, a genre known as copla music in Spain. On this disc, she largely forgoes the soul and electronic touches of earlier albums, and hews closer to traditional flamenco and romantic boleros, with some pronounced jazz overtones as well. It's a grand, romantic approach that brings to mind other Afro-Latina artists such as Cesaria Evora, Omara Portuoundo, Virginia Rodrigues... You kind of have to be on that romantic, melodramatic wavelength for this to work, although there is a touch of Cuban-style salsa on a tune or two that may appeal to a wider pool of world music fans. This is her third album, and fans of the first two will appreciate the emotional intensity and stripped-down sound of this latest record.

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African Music Index
World Music Index

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