Morne’s blah-blah blog

Fourteen years ago World Circuit boss Nick Gold had the rather splendid idea of arranging a collaboration between some Malian and Cuban musicians. The studio sessions were booked in Havana, but due to the Malian musicians’ passports being stuck in a state of postal limbo, the planned collaboration never took place. Enter Ry Cooder to round up some not half-bad veterans of the Cuban music scene and record an obscure little album called Buena Vista Social Club. The rest his history of course. The album sold about a gazillion copies and led to a veritable army of Oprah-watching wine lovers reclining in their faux-Barcelona chairs discussing the merits of world music. The fact that the CD was probably bookended by Kenny G and the Gypsy Kings in their high-gloss tower CD stands perhaps cheapens the fairytale mythology of the project somewhat but hey, it makes for a fabulous story nonetheless.

Yesterday finally saw the release of the sessions planned fourteen years ago. Afrocubism features the all-star roster one would expect including Eliades Ochoa, Bassekou Kouyate, Super Rail Band guitarist Djelimady Tounkara and kora master Toumani Diabaté. I probably don’t need to elaborate on the project too much since, in the ideal world, your Kenny G-loving friends will be telling you all about it over canapés at your next dinner party… hey, a man can dream.