Headlining the closing night of the Celebrate
Brooklyn festival on Aug. 19 will be Senegalese superstar Baaba
Maal.
Maal’s music is celebrated throughout the world and his new album
is a return, of sorts, to his roots. In fact, it was recorded
in the Senegalese village of Nbunk, using a remote recording
studio.
Maal put together a band of 14 incredibly talented musicians
and complemented them with accomplished guests (mostly from Senegal
and other African countries). He then set up an outside recording
area where the tracks were laid down live in the early evening
under the stars.
The result, "Missing You (Mi Yeewnii)," is a breathtaking
and memorable album that will remain with you long after your
first listen.
Maal is currently in the midst of a world tour in support of
"Missing You," released June 5 on the Ryko/Palm label.
On Sunday, Aug. 19, he arrives in Brooklyn to perform at the
Prospect Park Bandshell as part of Celebrate Brooklyn’s African
Festival.
Produced by John Leckie, whose credits include Radiohead and
The Stone Roses, "Missing You" contains 11 songs that
celebrate Africa. In the enhanced CD’s additional making-of-the-album
footage, Leckie said that the biggest challenge in making "Missing
You" was that they wanted to make a record that sounded
like Africa. He called it "a picture of Africa."
In a telephone interview this week, Maal told GO Brooklyn that
he wanted this record to "speak to the conscience"
of Africa. He said that he wanted the "leaders of Africa"
to hear his message urging them to "be more responsible
for Africa as they enter the new millennium and to work for the
unity of Africa and the integration of Africa."
Maal acknowledged that the African continent had its problems,
especially environmental concerns, but also pointed out that
Africans and the continent have always been exploited. As he
writes in the liner notes, "Africa has done its work and
now is the time to get her rights."
Maal wanted to record "Missing You" in the village
of Nbunk because it was a quiet place far from cities and urban
life. It provided the band the space it needed to allow all the
instruments to sound natural, and it proved very conducive to
the acoustic sounds that the band put to Maal’s original songs
as well as the African folksongs featured on the record.
"Miyaabele" is one such folk song. It’s a beautiful
ballad and one of the many highlights of the record. The soaring
harmonies are mesmerizing, and even though I didn’t understand
the language, it evoked a wide range of universal emotions. Other
standout tracks on this album are "Jamma Jenngii (It is
the Night)," "Yoolelle Maman (Tribute to Parents)"
and the album’s final track, "Allah addu jam (God Will Bring
Peace on You)."
Maal’s vocals and exquisite guitar playing form the backbone
of "Missing You."
"The record starts between me and my guitar," he said,
noting that he added the substantial instrumentation, harmonies
and polyrhythmic percussion and let each of the songs grow to
their fullest potential.
"I want people to be able to feel the melodies," said
Maal. "This record is for my audience that has supported
me since the beginning."
He said "Missing You" feels very much like his earlier
music and the response so far has been outstanding. He has been
very pleased that European audiences have responded well to the
record and to the performances. At the time of our interview,
he was also very much looking forward to his U.S. tour, which
began Aug. 4 at the Newport Folk Festival.
Maal will appear with Daande Lenol at Celebrate Brooklyn’s 10th
annual celebration of the African Diaspora where he will headline
a show that includes Ex-Centric Sound System (from Israel/Ghana),
Lucky Ngema & Friends (from South Africa) and Mamadou Diabate
(from Mali). There will also be a traditional African marketplace.
"I am looking forward to playing in Brooklyn at Prospect
Park because there are a lot of people living in Brooklyn that
are from Africa and appreciate African music," said Maal.
The festival begins at 1 pm and Maal is scheduled to perform
at 7:30 pm. If you can’t catch Maal at Celebrate Brooklyn, he
will be at Irving Plaza, in Manhattan, on Aug. 25.
"Missing You" is a remarkable accomplishment for an
artist who has truly emerged as an international superstar. It
really is a picture of Africa and a tribute to the continent
and its people.
"Missing You" is without any doubt the best World Music
release of the year and one of the 10 best albums of the year
of any genre. It will certainly be a memorable experience to
see Maal perform these songs live on Aug. 19.
Adam Stengel is a singer-songwriter
who has produced an album of his work titled "Train of Thought."
He is also a Manhattan-based music attorney.
Baaba Maal will perform at 7:30 pm at
the Prospect Park Bandshell (Ninth Street at Prospect Park West
in Park Slope) on Aug. 19 as part of Celebrate Brooklyn’s 10th
annual African Festival. The traditional marketplace opens at
1 pm. A Q&A with the artists, led by ethnomusicologist Danny
Dawson, begins at 2 pm, Ivoire Sensation at 3 pm, Mamadou Diabate
at 4 pm, Lucky Ngema & Friends at 5 pm and Ex-Centric Sound
System at 6 pm. Suggested donation is $3. For more information
call (718) 855-7882, ext. 45 or visit the Web site at www.celebratebrooklyn.org.
