Diaxas

Like an African version of Jamaica’s Sly & Robbie, Jam Groove are the London-based Senegalese rhythm duo of drummer Oumar Diagne and bassist Assane Ba. Over the years they’ve toured with the likes of Thione Seck and, most prolifically, played on the albums of Baaba Maal’s former kora player Diabel Cissokho, with whom they’ve worked for more than a decade. Now comes their first solo recording as a duo and don’t be misled by their adopted name.

Although they can improvise along with the best of them, the ‘Jam’ of the title does not mean letting it all hang out but is Wolof for ‘Peace’. Fittingly Diaxas means ‘Patchwork’, for although the album’s roots are planted in Senegal their music takes in elements of salsa, Afrobeat, highlife and Afro-jazz. Recorded in Dakar, the music is heavy on the rhythm and the bass and drums drive the album. They’re joined by various friends including a horn section, keyboards and guest vocalists, among them Vieux Sall sings on three tracks. Elsewhere ‘Adouna’ is a jazzy slice of languid Afro-pop, ‘Mbeuguel’ has a lovely bubbling mbalax feel (although it’s not to be confused with Youssou N’Dour’s ‘Mbeuguel is All’) and ‘Africa’ is a throbbing Afrobeat monster with a fine vocal by London-based Congolese singer Destine.