On Stage: Orchestra Baobab @ Melkweg

A few weeks ago I wrote a review for Orchestra Baobab's new album for FestivalInfo, which you can read over here (in Dutch). The beautiful record is a worthy addition to the impressive career of the band from Senegal. Best of all, they were visiting my home town!

Orchestra Baobab at Melkweg Amsterdam, May 6 2017

When the nine members of the band walk on the stage, loud cheers sound. It's been a long time since the band visited our country and ten years since the previous record. It is obvious their fans are happy to see them again. In the meantime they lost their singer Ndiouga Dieng and dedicated the new LP to him. His son Alpha Dieng is now sharing lead vocals with veteran and timbales player Balla Sidibe. Guitarist BarthélémyAttisso left the band and was replaced with kora player Abdoulaye Cissoko, which works very well as we get to experience tonight. The kora broadens their sound even more and his presence adds extra energy to the stage where the kora is an attraction by itself.

It is incredible how the band is able to keep the songs modest with so many skilled and talented people on stage. But everyone knows exactly what the songs need and won't play unnecessary notes. Every musician can grab their moment to shine. Tenor sax player Issa Cissokho knows how to entertain the crowd, making contact with the people in front of the stage and goofing around a bit. Together with the modest alt sax player Thierno Koité they add sparkling accents and energetic solo's.

I was especially impressed with young guitarist René Sowatche, who is scattering virtuoso solos and melodies around like candy. The Afro-Cuban and traditional African music turns the venue into a dancing party where most of the people are moving to the melancholic and sunny melodies. Today spring returned to our country and I think this wonderful band has something to do with that, bringing sunshine where ever they go.



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On Stage: New Cool Collective ft. Thierno Koite

On a trip through Senegal New Cool Collective attended an Orchestra Baobab show and got acquainted with their alto sax player Thierno Koite. They got along very well and the band dedicated a song to him on their album Electric Monkey Sessions. Now, a few years later, they even were able to fly him over and record some songs together and of course do a few shows while he's here.

New Cool Collective ft. Thierno Koite at Paradiso Amsterdam, May 8 2016

I've seen New Cool Collective play several times of course but not so often will you be able to see them play with their entire big band. That alone is a reason to go see this show. First they start to play a few songs without their special guest to warm up, as if they need to on this tropical day in May. It's always nice to see this band play, with their loose and cool attitude but very tight arrangements and play. You can leave it to these top notch players to throw a swinging party and it's sad to see not many people are here tonight.

Most of the big band players get their change to play a solo tonight up front in the spot light although maybe the sax players spent less time there. Because their special guest Thierno Koite is invited to the stage after a small introduction by band leader Benjamin Herman. Koite looks a bit overwhelmed by all this attention but NCC make sure he gets plenty of time to play. Herman mentions his unique sax sound and indeed it's almost as if his sax is singing African songs, sometimes even whispering.

There are a few Orchestra Baobab songs on tonight's setlist together with some new songs and everything is entirely written for this special set-up. The band is in great shape and on fire so it's impossible to stand still. The rhythm section goes crazy with explosive solos and all sax players gather at the front for an amazing round of saxophone craziness. Together with Koite, NCC turned this night into an African dancing party and we even had the African sun to go with it. I can't wait to hear the new album!



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