Bole2Harlem Volume I.Bole2Harlem Volume I by Bole2Harlem (World Connection WC 64002 CD) For many of the musicians who make up the Bole2Harlem collective, Bole--the name of Ethiopia's international airport--is the last glimpse they had of their homeland before setting out for New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. . And not just any part of NYC NYC abbr. New York City NYC New York City , but Harlem. Now the location of the newly coined Little Africa, Harlem--with its great Afro-American music tradition--has become home to a new generation of immigrants keen to synthesize To create a whole or complete unit from parts or components. See synthesis. their own sounds with that of their new environment. If Bole2Harlem represents a bridge between two cultures, it's also one that began as an impromptu arrangement. This band--which includes an Amharic rapper, Maki Siraj, vocalist Tigiist Shibaba, an American cellist and a Malian kora player--came together out of Saturday night jam sessions at a downtown French-Moroccan restaurant. What started as a jam was quickly picked up by veteran producer David Schommer. The resulting album--its title suggests there is more to come--jumps with the vivacity of live music. Bole2Harlem has a funk overdrive that's augmented by wild ululations, slithering slith·er v. slith·ered, slith·er·ing, slith·ers v.intr. 1. To glide or slide like a reptile. See Synonyms at slide. 2. To walk with a sliding or shuffling gait. 3. strings and breakneck break·neck adj. 1. Dangerously fast: a breakneck pace. 2. Likely to cause an accident: a breakneck curve. percussion. The acceleration of 'Hi Lo Ga' makes for an irresistible dance tune, while the album's introductory 'Bole 2 Harlem' has a wonderful lilt with little flavours of woodwind. Recommended. GOOD www.bole2harlem.com LG |
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