Regard Sur Le Passé

This CD brings together two Guinean master musicians and griots – vocalist Sékouba Bambino (lead singer of the legendary Bembeya Jazz National) and storyteller and kamalengoni player Baba Sissoko – with the Classica Orchestra Afrobeat. The Orchestra features classical musicians from Europe, who mostly play on present day European orchestral instruments, plus harpsichord, viola da gamba, bagpipes, mandolin and accordion, along with balafon (xylophone) and Mande drums.

Together they created this version of the suite Regard Sur Le Passé. Originally written in 1969 by the Guinean state band Bembeya Jazz National, it epitomised the cultural enthusiasm sweeping Guinea and other newly independent West African countries. The suite celebrates the life of Samory Touré, who at the end of the 19th century had led a successful resistance to the advances of the French troops for over 20 years. For this version, recorded live in 2013, the Orchestra's director, Marco Zanotti, transcribed the original guitar lines of Bembeya Jazz National, including those of the virtuoso Sékou ‘Diamond Fingers’ Diabaté, and arranged the piece for the ensemble. Sadly, it doesn’t really convince. The limp orchestration and arrangements make it all very muzak-like. Sékouba's voice and Baba Sissoko's playing, however, are brilliant throughout.