At the Palais de la Culture, Wed., March 9—The opportunity to hear groups led by jazz masters Ray Lema and Paco Séry filled the Salle Lougah Francois with anticipation, and the musicians delivered magnificent music, unfortunately after a long delay due to technical issues.
Impressive new discoveries followed later in the evening on the breezy, open-aired Salle Anoumabo, like the quirky, engaging and original Ghanaian Kyekyeku, who mines overlooked palm-wine/highlife and folk from the '50s. Other impressive acts included: Marema, a young singer/songwriter from Senegal; Ba Banga Nyeck, an Ivorian balafon ensemble; n’goni driven Kundé Blues from Burkina Faso; and Nteko from Congo-Brazzaville, who sang a heartfelt set. Unfortunately, we missed the performance of Msafiri Zawose, but were glad to hear they would be touring the U.S. in October. Awa Sango finished the evening with the message, “We can build a new world together.” Her band featured Abidjan native Abou Diarrasouba’s thunderous drumming.
Balancing attempts to hear music on the third stage was complicated, but we did manage to take in Blandine, a Congolese/Canadian singer, and Madagascar’s Razia Said. A zouglou mashup from Tonton Zela, reggae from Naftaly, and a second chance to take in the marvelous Bendia, offered a cross section of the Abidjan scene. [Photo above, Awa Sangho by William Farrington]
[caption id="attachment_28099" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
Traditional dancers from the Korhogo region in the north of Cote d'Ivoire, one of several troupes that roamed the grounds, Wednesday afternoon to the delight of guests. All photos by William Farrington.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_28100" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
Paco Séry, legendary drummer: His rumbling punctual wallops were counterbalanced by two exquisite jazz vocalists, alto sax and keys.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_28101" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
Ray Lema opening the Soirée Jazz at the Palais de la Culture, Wednesday. Lema's all-star quartet played a set of acoustic jazz featuring sweet vocal harmonies and engaging guitar interplay.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_28102" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
Ray Lema at the piano during the opening performance at the Soirée Jazz in the Palais de la Culture.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_28103" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
Ray Lema and Ballou Canta, center, take a bow to a standing ovation at the Palais de la Culture.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_28104" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
Ba Banga Nyeck, featuring four balafons, a percussionist, and beguiling modern dance by Bacome Niamba, was one of the wonderful surprises of the wee hours Wednesday night.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_28105" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
From northern Cote d'Ivoire, Ba Banga Nyeck bandleader Paul Junior Nyeck, a balafon chromatique pioneer performing at the MASA festival.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_28106" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
Blandine Dina, a Congolese singer from Canada[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_28107" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
Ghanaian Kyekyeku's engaging music is a quirky twist on palm-wine/highlife and folk from the '50s. He cited Koo Nimo and Ebo Taylor in particular as his influences, telling Afropop after his show it's a subtle reminder to musicians you need not look outside Ghanaian culture for inspiration.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_28108" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
Senegalese singer/songwriter Marema and her band performing at MASA, another eye-opening talent that rewarded patient audience members.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_28110" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
Awa Sangho's set concluded with "Nan Garaba," a song addressed to the youth, as she waved deliriously happy dancers to the stage.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_28111" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
Aida Flafoue Dao, vocals (left), and Boubacar (Papa) Djiga, n'goni solo (right) of Kundé Blues, from Burkina Faso.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_28112" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
Razia Said and her band ready to go on stage. Unfortunately it would be over 24 hours before her fiery set galvanized the crowd and was over much too soon due to time constraints.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_28113" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
Razia Said, one of Madagascar's most important voices.[/caption]