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Orchestra Baobab (Senegal)
Orchestra Baobab links on Radio 3:
Awards for World Music 2003 profile
nominated by:
Frank Griffin, Amersham:
'Stunning concerts this year and the stars of Womad, Reading. The brilliant reissue of Pirates Choice was followed by the wonderful CD Specialist in All Styles. Atisso's guitar and Cissokho's sax are in great form, especially when they 'battle' against each other.'
Bill Alexander, Ross-shire:
'Two wonderful concerts (WOMAD & Glasgow), the best album of the year, and total nostalgia - they must walk it!'
Alan Finkel, London:
'After their wonderful performance at WOMAD, the long-awaited Specialist in all Styles finally arrived and lived up to all expectations ~ album of the year!'
Ken Amery, Wells:
'I Saw them do a brilliant live show in Bristol. Great rapport with the audience. Their recorded music is also superb.'
Nick Dawe, Bognor Regis:
'OK - it's taken them a while to get back together again, but the stuff they've done just lately is the best thing to com out of Western Africa in ages! (in my personal opinion...)'
Richard Blundel, Oxford Brookes University:
'Their sound is distinctive, infectious and always leaves me feeling that life is just a little more joyful.'
Dierk Ladendorff, Germany:
'Since the 70`s the cleanest singers and instrumentalist of West Africa who have influenced much more than is obvious i.e. the cuban "hype". Now they are back on stage. But this is not the beach boy reunion this is African music at its very best!'
Mike Shearing, Exeter:
'Being seriously impoverished, I made their's one of only 3 gigs attended this year - and cycled 90 miles from Exeter to Bristol to see it. Artists who thoroughly deserve the belated recognition.'
Peter Mitchell, Blackpool:
'A wonderful band whose recorded and live performances have given me much pleasure. Their walking of with this award would be truly be justified, and give me great satisfaction.It could not though, match the thrill of seeing them live in Manchester last October.'
Mr.P.Cory, Louth:
'Takes me back to the music I heard in the bars of West Africa back in the 1970's. Such joyous music to come out of a sad Continent.'
Susan Leckey, Brighton:
'Saw a fantastic live performance by Orchestra Baobab in Brighton - what a privilege to see these superstars in action, with an inspiring and joyful mix of Afro-Cuban numbers and more traditional griot singing - their new album Specialist in All Styles must be album of the year.'
Richard Law, Keighley:
'Great to see and hear a group who faded away return with such freshness and enthusiasm. A real less is more sound.'
David Acquet, London:
'What a comeback , beautifully arranged with superb guest vocals from Tonton Ferrer and Youssou Ndour. This is almost as close to a perfect world music album.'
TJ Coughlan, Somerset:
'Magnificent live performances at WOMAD & the later UK tour; 2002 album Specialist in all Styles is my album of the year. I spent half my life regretting never having seen Baobab originally, yet they were still better than I'd hoped.'
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