Guëw

Album review

Guew is state-of-the-art Senegalese mbalax. Souleymane Faye has had his share of misfortunes; however, he has had the good fortune to have worked with the Cape Verdian, Bana, and to have been the vocalist for Xalam, the seminal ethnic jazz-fusion group from Senegal. This is his first album since singing with Xalam in the 1980s. The album has a slight rock tinge to it, but it is mbalax that propels and uplifts. His lyrics are incisive and clever. But it is on the soulful ballads that Faye's voice renders a depth of feeling rarely heard on albums. Mbalax is a rhythm native to Senegal, and the percussive downbeat is difficult to pin down with any regularity. Among the Senegalese, it is a game to guess when the downbeat will fall. The djembe drums and other percussion are up front in the mix complemented by big, fat horns. It took a while, but this album from one of the most misunderstood singers in Senegalese music is a major achievement. Highly recommended.

© Mark Romano /TiVo