Lemzo Diamono - "Marimbalax"

[damienzm]

One of my all time faves for African music and Mbablax is Lemzo Diamono - "Marimbalax"

I tried to find other recordings like this one, with little success. I have the Diamono - "Direct from Dakar"
album, and a few others, including the "Streets of Dakar"... a great compilation.

I really love the hard, rhythmic, non commercialized Mbalax, like the Lemzo release, and older Youssou.

I don't really care for Wolof rap and alot of the stuff coming out today.

Does anyone have any recommendations for more material like "Marimbalax", or older Youssou, up to the Polygram recordings? I'm anxiously awaiting the rumored Stern's compilation of older Etoile de Dakar music, previously unreleased on CD...

[DavidN]

Damien, you are asking if there is any blue in the sky here, buddy.

Yes. There is other mbalax. About 3 generations worth of recorded music if not more. Omar Pene has been very popular with young people for a long time, but I would not call his music typical.

Try this:

Buy just about anything on the Dakar Sound label that you can find. A number of these are compilations, but you won't be disappointed. There are a couple of albums on this label that are NOT mbalax: one is an album of the Tanzanian big band Bana Maquis, another is Dexter Johnson & Super Star de Dakar. Johnson was a Nigerian saxophonist who made latin music with a Senegalese band in the late 70s & early 80s. Great recordings, but not mbalax.

I mention this label because these CDs should be a lot easier to find than most of the Senegalese LPs, cassettes and CDs I have around here.

On the Dakar Sound label, here are a couple of my favorites in the genre you're seeking;

1. Dakar Sound Volume 1: Etoile 2000 FANTASTIC album by a FANTASTIC band

2. Dakar Sound Volume 2: Sorano Singers

3. Dakar Sound Volume 4: Their Thing

4. Dakar Sound Voulme 5: 100% Pure Double Concentre (Comes with a bonus CD reissue  of  Thione Seck's classic "Chauffer B" LP.

5. Dakar Sound Voulme 9: Meanwhile In Thies...

Both Vol. 4 and Vol. 9 have cuts by the Royal Band of Adama Seck, one of my favorite Senegalese bands. Anything by them is guaranteed to blow your mind.

The Popular African Music label also put out some great Senegalese albums, but they're mostly Senegalese salsa .... which is GREAT stuff by the way if you don't know it.

[amf]

You may also do a search here -- For "Mbalax"

[damienzm]

Thank you all for your feedback

I have since become an Mbalax maniac, and have amassed quite a collection.

It still comes down to Youssou every time!

I've got a lot of digitized out of print cassettes if anyone is interested

Also, I've transcribed a few tunes if any musicians are interested

Thanks again for this great forum and all the wonderful music!

Damien

[amf]

damienzm,
 
Post some videos/transcriptions here.

Also, if you have some downloadables -- feel free to post them.

[damienzm]

Here's "Masla-Bi" Transcription

I'm looking for help with the Wolof lyrics

I'm not very good with the protocol for attaching and displaying stuff on forums, so we'll give it a try

Thanks all

Damien