Banjul-London

Originally from the Gambia, but resident in London since 2002, Jally Kebba Susso is a kora player but he's not averse to amplification, fronting a fully-charged band of drums, bass, guitars, horns and percussion. This second album follows on from 2012's Malaye Warr, recorded in the capital cities of England and the Gambia. Most of the tracks are penned by Susso himself, although some include traditional motifs.

The full band punch is evident right from the opening ‘Rastaman’, an atypical tune that turns on a dub reggae axis, intended to draw in a wide range of listeners. The second track, ‘Cilong Sissa’, has a more traditional sound, but subsequent cuts mostly operate on a funk-jazz fusion level, capitalising on the solid band rapport. The momentum is in place for most of the album, pausing for ‘Nina Tolla’, which is reminiscent of one of James Brown's soulful slowies, although even this number eventually bounds into a stomping finale. The horn section imposes a creeping smooth jazz vibration on several songs, but the overall thrust remains in place. ‘Dinna’ has an impressive slap bass solo, and Matteo Grassi's foundation bass lines are prominent throughout the album.