Bákini: En el Nuevo Mundo

Bákini is not just the name of this album, it is a project led by musicians and educators Michael Spiro and Joe Galvin to celebrate the communitarian force of percussion and the tactile, visceral, material qualities of drumming. The two extended suites are built around Afro-Cuban rhythms, and feature lead singers such as renowned vocalist and percussionist Jesús Díaz alongside choral backing singers paying homage to orishas (deities). Throughout, the beat has as much authority as vocals. The complex sequences and diverse sounds summoned from a range of skins and woods hit the sweet spot between man-made and organic. There's a jazz spirit here, and also a recognition of ancient roots. The ‘Aganyu Suite’ closes with a postmodern sign-off on strings. The 11-minute composition ‘Maracambique’ brings in trombone and steel pans, blending African music from Cuba and Brazil into a liltingly beautiful invitation to dance. An edifying as well as an uplifting and original release, Bákini relocates percussion to its rightful central role.