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PRODUCTION
NOTES |
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The
opening track was written when I came back from Zaire in
June 1989. It is based on the mutuashi rhythm (from the
baluba tribe in Kasai). It's conception is a long impro/variation
on a joyful/exuberant theme. It is an illustration of my
rather exalted state of mind after my first African experience. |
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This
composition is based on a very unusual rhythm I discovered
during a mini-concert of drums and dances in Kinshasa. This
rhythm (in the impossible time signature of 4 ½ !),
fascinated me so much that I decided to make a piece out
of it. I began it during the night in Kinshasa, hence it's
first title 'A Night in Kinshasa'.
Later the piece developed into something
more jazzy with sax and piano solos. This rhythm originates
from the mongo region (in the center of Congo) and I found
legitimate to add to the piece a mini-choir of pygmies
who live in that region.
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One
of the outstanding facts in music history is the Atlantic
crossing that was forced upon the African slaves. This allowed
African music to be exported to the American continent and
develop into many different styles..
This piece is a mix of central African
and Brazilian music in which I added a middle part reminiscent
of the European ECM jazz of the eighties.
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It
is rumoured that in the ex-French colonies of Africa, newborn
African babies were given the name of the saint patron of
the day in the official calendar of the republic. Those
born on the 14th of July were christened Fetnat (for Fete
Nationale).
This piece uses all the elements of the
congolese sukus but with modifications : it is not the
standard Congolese way of playing lead guitar, bass or
snare. Maybe pseudo-sukus will break out as a new style
?
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The
name 'Land of the thousand hills' applies both to Rwanda
and Burundi but it is currently more used for Rwanda. In
my personal history it is however Burundi and it's famous
drum orchestras that I first heard and that inspired this
piece that was written in 1991. I kept the original title
despite the possible confusion.
This composition is based on the rhythmic
patterns of the big drums with some extra marimbas and
strings and a touch of jazz during the sax solo.
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This
is the oldest piece on the CD. It was composed in a very
solitary period of my life in 1985. I later put an African
touch to it by adding drums and derbouka.
The title is a private joke on my name
when I fancied myself as a hawk soaring in the sky above
human agitation. The hermit's temptation in a way …
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I
started to be interested in the music from Rwanda in 1996,
especially the women's dances whose graceful movements are
in complete contrast to men's dances. The rhythm and the
sounds of this track are evocative of these dances with
the bells that are attached to the young girl's ankles.
However, neither the melody is not from Rwanda nor the title
that reminds me of somebody I loved at that time. |
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Matonge
is the name of the african neighbourhood in Brussels, that
was named after a part of Kinshasa. This is a tribute to
the classic Congolese rumba in three parts : thème
1, thème 2 and finally sebene.
The melody of the sax is an imitation
of the very ornamented lead vocal line of the Congolese
singers.
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I
wanted to include as well Sénégal on this
CD, a country I visited a lot and the culture of which I
highly appreciate. The first part of this song is an arrangement
on a traditional sénégalais ('Chérie'),
commonly known as Baaba Maal. The second part, which is
based on the mbalax (sénégalais rythm), gets
its name from one of the neighborhoods of Dakar, where Thiossane
is situated, the famous night box of Youssou N'dour. |
- @ 2005 Robert Falk