Description
With the Super Biton de Segou, we literally go back in time we meet in the sixties and seventies : Louis Armstrong in 1960 and Duke Ellington in 1967 during their African tours which marked and gave vocations to countless musicians, the beginnings of amplified music, Radio-Brazzaville and Congolese music influenced by Cuban percussions or the national artistic and cultural biennials which rewarded the best orchestras in Mali. All these crucial elements have enabled Mali to acquire musical orchestras existing under the aegis of the State of Mali which have shone throughout Africa: the Rail Band of Bamako, the Ambassadeurs du Motel, the Goffe Star of Kayes; the Kene Star of Sikasso, the Kanaga of Mopti, the Ensemble Instrumental of Mali, the Mystere Jazz of Tombouctou and of course the Super Biton of Segou.
This first volume, entitled Afro.Jazz.Folk Collection, brings together a total of 8 emblematic Super Biton titles recorded over the years between 1970 and 1980 and published on his vinyl or cassette albums. Remastered by Raphael Jonin, they represent the trademark of Super Biton, namely a well-balanced mix of electric modernity and enhancement of Bambara cultural heritage while being open to other influences, such as Cuban music for example.
Like the title that opens the compilation, Ndossoke, with the bewitching and above all dancing Bambara rhythm, the music of Segou's Super Biton is a marvelous receptacle for singing directly inspired by the Mandingo oral tradition praising the exploits of the hunters of the time of the Segou Empire. We find this tradition in the title Kamalen Wari, 17 minutes which recounts, on a calmer pace, the epic Bozo, one of the first ethnic groups in the city of Segou. The quality of the texts paying homage to the greatness of the Kingdom of Segou and to the Bambara culture is surely for something there because the lyricist of Super Biton de Segou, Karamako Niang, who died in 2010 is one of the most famous lyricists and songwriters of Mali. Difficult to find today and selected by the 3 remaining members of the group, Modibo Diarra, Mama Sissoko and Aboubacar Kissa (very recently disappeared), these 8 tracks spread over 2 LPs are a vibrant testimony to the musical effervescence that reigned in Segou and in Mali in these years of overflowing cultural creativity and a tribute to all its talented musicians who crossed the road to Super Biton.
