Estrellas

This is a glorious album that was never supposed to happen. Fabrice Henri, the French hip-hop producer better known as Guts, had planned to record in Cuba. But COVID restrictions made that impossible so he flew the Cuban musicians to Dakar, and invited Senegalese stars to join the sessions, along with his own musicians from Europe. Twenty-five artists from three continents were involved, and in 15 days they recorded this 17-track set. The result is like a more funky, updated version of the original Buena Vista concept, and it works because the great cast were clearly enjoying themselves.

The Cubans include Cucurucho Valdés, nephew of Chucho, whose piano work switches from jazz to salsa and ballads, while the singers include Akemis Carrera and Brenda Navarrete, on fine form on the charming ‘Déjame en Paz’. There's Havana rapper El Tipo Este, joined by a brass section for the slinky ‘Dakar de Noche’. And from Senegal itself there's Assane Mboup, Alpha Dieng and guitarist René Sowatche, who provide a gently intense revival of ‘Adduna Jarul Naawo’, the Orchestra Baobab song from 1975. Then there's rousing funk on ‘Dansons Cadencés’ and rumba on ‘Il N’est Jamais Trop Tard’. Worth checking out.