Better late than never, Thrill Jockey has decided to jump into the archival reissue game with Sorry Bamba – Volume One, 1970-1979 a collection of rare and unreleased recordings cut by the Malian singer during his time with L'Orchestre Kanaga de Mopti – the group previously known as the Regional Orchestra of Mopti before leader Ali Farka Touré split after falling out with Bamba.
While Chicago's post-rock clearing house is probably better known las the home of Tortoise, Fiery Furnaces, Califone, Sea and Cake, Rome, Mouse On Mars and Archer Prewitt, the ever-eclectic Thrill Jockey label has dabbled in African music before. Yes it's true! Back in January they snuck out a rootsy experiment in acoustic minimalism from Sidi Touré called Sahel Folk with little fanfare and they've also put out a couple of mediocre benga-rock albums by Extra Golden.
Unfortunately, they've decided to photoshop a sleeve together based on the manipulated artwork from Sorry Bamba's Yayoroba album for Songhoi (above) perhaps to distinguish the album from Kindred Spirits strangely coincidental straight re-release of L'Orchestre Kanaga de Mopti's self-titled 1977 album for the Mali Kunkan label which uses the dope original artwork (right) and contains a couple of the same tunes (Gambari, Sare Mabo). But having stunning artwork to go with the cleanly remastered recordings might be too much to ask from Thrill Jockey who are still novices at this whole archival reissue thing.
Sorry Bamba – Volume One, 1970-1979
02. Boro
03. Gambari
04. Astan Kelly
05. Sekou Amadou
06. Sayouwe
07. Porry
08. Aisse
09. Byaydhourou
10. Sare Mabo
Thrill Jockey's press release:
Sorry Bamba was born in 1938 in Mopti - "The Venice of Mali" - a city whose setting at the confluence of the Niger and Bani rivers made it a true cultural crossroads. This diversity sparked an unsinkable curiosity and passion for learning that characterizes Sorry’s career to this day.
Sorry Bamba’s father was a noble, and a veteran of the Emperor Samory Touré’s army. In Mali’s caste-based society, this meant that he was forbidden to play music, an art reserved exclusively for griots. However, after being orphaned at a very young age, he turned to music for solace, particularly a six-holed flute that kept him busy day and night.
It was in 1957 that Sorry formed his first band, Group Goumbé, named after a dance craze from the Ivory Coast. Consisting of little more than some percussion instruments and a trumpet, Group Goumbé became popular with the young people of Mopti, publicizing their performances in a small van equipped with a loudspeaker.
In the fall of 1960, Mali gained its independence from France. A new spirit swept the land, epitomized by the fledgling country’s first president, the charismatic Modibo Keïta. Radio Mali was created to promote the nation’s lush musical heritage, as well as to encourage its modernization. This artistic call-to-arms was not lost on Sorry, whose Group Goumbé (now called Bani Jazz) had already begun to modernize its sound. Through Youth Weeks held in the capital city of Bamako, performances and competitions brought together the most talented artists of Mali’s six regions to create a national community, dedicated to the progress of the republic.
Nobody embodied this spirit of innovation more than Sorry Bamba. From 1968-1981, Sorry worked tirelessly as the director of Mopti’s dance troupe and the arranger of their traditional ensemble. But his greatest legacy is his time as the leader of the Regional Orchestra of Mopti (essentially a rechristened Bani Jazz). Sorry’s group competed in six National Biennials, taking home the grand prize in 1976, 1978 and 1980. By that point, they had become known as the Kanaga Orchestra, a name symbolizing the God Amma, creator of the Dogon people. This is the period of time covered on this record.
It is important to note that this compilation was created with the direct input of Sorry Bamba himself. His enthusiasm and patience are remarkable for someone whose extreme underexposure borders on the criminal. However, while it is easy to characterize the man, to try to classify Sorry Bamba’s music is to do it a gross disservice. The only truly suitable word is MAGIC!
Sorry Bamba’s father was a noble, and a veteran of the Emperor Samory Touré’s army. In Mali’s caste-based society, this meant that he was forbidden to play music, an art reserved exclusively for griots. However, after being orphaned at a very young age, he turned to music for solace, particularly a six-holed flute that kept him busy day and night.
It was in 1957 that Sorry formed his first band, Group Goumbé, named after a dance craze from the Ivory Coast. Consisting of little more than some percussion instruments and a trumpet, Group Goumbé became popular with the young people of Mopti, publicizing their performances in a small van equipped with a loudspeaker.
In the fall of 1960, Mali gained its independence from France. A new spirit swept the land, epitomized by the fledgling country’s first president, the charismatic Modibo Keïta. Radio Mali was created to promote the nation’s lush musical heritage, as well as to encourage its modernization. This artistic call-to-arms was not lost on Sorry, whose Group Goumbé (now called Bani Jazz) had already begun to modernize its sound. Through Youth Weeks held in the capital city of Bamako, performances and competitions brought together the most talented artists of Mali’s six regions to create a national community, dedicated to the progress of the republic.
Nobody embodied this spirit of innovation more than Sorry Bamba. From 1968-1981, Sorry worked tirelessly as the director of Mopti’s dance troupe and the arranger of their traditional ensemble. But his greatest legacy is his time as the leader of the Regional Orchestra of Mopti (essentially a rechristened Bani Jazz). Sorry’s group competed in six National Biennials, taking home the grand prize in 1976, 1978 and 1980. By that point, they had become known as the Kanaga Orchestra, a name symbolizing the God Amma, creator of the Dogon people. This is the period of time covered on this record.
It is important to note that this compilation was created with the direct input of Sorry Bamba himself. His enthusiasm and patience are remarkable for someone whose extreme underexposure borders on the criminal. However, while it is easy to characterize the man, to try to classify Sorry Bamba’s music is to do it a gross disservice. The only truly suitable word is MAGIC!
Gambari by L'Orchestre Kanaga de Mopti
Sorry Bamba discusses his music en Français
LINKS
Sorry Bamba http://www.musiques-afrique.com/frames/art_bamba_sorry.html
Thrill Jockey http://www.thrilljockey.com/catalog/?id=105298
L'Orchestre Kanaga de Mopti http://www.kindred-spirits.nl/release_detail.php?idxItem=58352
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