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STCD 1120CD
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20 years after its historic debut, the international salsa super-group Africando still packs a punch. Africando's eighth studio album, this is the first not recorded primarily in New York. This time, the Africando masterminds, producer Ibrahima Sylla and arranger Boncana Maiga, bring New York's top Latin musicians -- led by pianist Oscar Hernandez -- to Paris. There they reunite with the group's vocal stars, Medoune Diallo, Sékouba Bambino, Amadou Ballaké and Shoubou, along with distinguished guest singers from diverse African and American countries, singing, all told, in 10 different languages. But whatever the language, with Africando it's always classic salsa -- salsa dura -- the hottest Afro-Latin style. That dedication to a golden sound is brought home on the album finale, a tribute to Africando by the great contemporary American champions of classic big-band salsa, the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, featuring Ray de la Paz.
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STCD 1071CD
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2000 release. Just as Africando was beginning to enjoy international success, tragedy struck. Pape Seck, the author and lead singer of the group's biggest hit, "Yay Boy," died in 1995. Difficult as that was for everyone in the group, there was too much living talent to bring such a good thing down. Gnonnas Pedro, a star in his native Benin, and a Cuban-American singer, Ronnie Baro, joined original singers Medoune Diallo and Nicolas Menheim, and with producer Ibrahima Sylla and arranger Boncana Maiga, they regrouped with the top Latin musicians in New York. Gombo Salsa was originally released in 1996. Global Rhythm observed that "Africando still has enough vocal power for several groups," and All Music Guide recognized the band's trajectory: "Africando moves into even higher and hotter musical territory."
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STCD 1103CD
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2006 release. Ketukuba stands as a tribute to the late Gnonnas Pedro, Benin's favorite son, who sang with Africando from 1996 until his death in 2004. The title song was his last recording. Medoune Diallo, who earned his reputation with Orchestre Baobob before casting his lot with the nascent Africando in 1992, added to his distinguished repertoire with a duet with his son, Lodia Mansour, a rising star in Senegal today. Other Africando stalwarts, Amadou Ballaké (Burkina Faso's pre-eminent singer) and Sékouba Bambino (the "baby" star of Guinea's Bembeya Jazz National) also contributed standout songs to the new album. American salsero Joe King gave a rousing rendition of the Fania All-Stars classic "Nina Nina." And Congolese star Madilu "System" Bialu joined Africando for a sparkling Latin-styled version of "Mario," the landmark hit he originally recorded with Franco's T.P.O.K. Jazz in 1985. (He died a year after making this record.) The sparking arrangements for Ketukuba were written and conducted by Nelson Hernandez, who is known for his work with Celia Cruz, Oscar D'Leon and many other Latin stars.
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STCD 1092CD
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2000 release from Africando All Stars featuring Medoune Diallo, Lokua Kanza, Salif Keita, Gnonnas Pedro, Koffi Olomide, Thione Seck, Shoubou, Sekouba Bambino, Ronnie Baro, Amadou Balake and Hector Casanova. An Afro-Latin vocal summit with no less than 11 of Africa's greatest voices backed by one of the tightest, funkiest salsa machines ever assembled. "Africando ... gains in lustre and importance with every new step." --Songlines
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STCD 1096CD
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2003 release from African-voiced salsa group Africando. Singers: Africando Allstars, Sekouba Bambino, Ismael Lô, Amadou Balaké, Medoune Diallo, Gnonnas Pedro, Shoubou, Adama Seka, Nyboma & Emeneya and Ronnie Baro. "The group hasn't dropped a beat ... and there's no stopping them." --All Music Guide
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