Showing posts with label Balla et Ses Balladins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Balla et Ses Balladins. Show all posts

Pivi et les Balladins (Guinea, 1972)


This album, recorded in 1972, has a twin sleeve found on the album from Balla et ses Balladins that I already posted, but under antother sleeve (what a story). Anyway, this opus is special because Kante Manfila is singing on two tracks: "Yahadi Gere" and "Fon N' Tan Siga".
Much of Balladins' success lies in the instrumentation: both leaders, Balla and Pivi are horn players rather than guitarists or singers. They were both serious musicologists, deeply into folkloric research. At one point government interference transfered several band members to back Miriam Makeba and assigned a new singer to the band. Balla told the minister off and was demoted so the band became Pivi et les Balladins.

Cet album, energistré en 1972, possède une pochette jumelle qui est celle de Balla et ses Balladins, que j'ai déjà posté mais sous une autre pochette (toute une histoire). En tout cas, cet album est particulier car Kante Manfila fait une apparition sur deux titres: "Yahadi Gere" et "Fon N'Tan Siga".
Le succès des Balladins reposent sur l'instrumentation: les deux chefs d'orchestre, Balla et Pivi sont plus des joueurs de cuivre que des guitaristes ou des chanteurs. Ils étaient deux musicologistes attachés aux racines musicales traditionnelles. Le gouvernement Guinéen interferant dans la sphère musicale, décide de placer certains musiciens dans l'orchestre de Miriam Makeba et de changer de chanteur. Balla s'opposa au ministère et fut renvoyé. L'orchestre devint Pivi et les Balladins.

Syliphone Discothèque 71


Here is a compilation of Guinean year 1970 which should delight everyone. Music traditional and modern orchestrated by leading bands such as Bembeya, Balla, Keletigui, Virtuose Diabate... I have found no information on the obscure band Bafing Jazz Mamou, so if someone knows, speak up.

Voici une compilation Guinéenne de l'année 1970 qui devrait enchanter tout le monde. Musique traditionnelle et moderne orchestrées par les plus grands orchestres tels que Bembeya, Balla, Keletigui, Virtuose Diabate, bref, un grand cru. Je n'ai pas trouvé d'informations sur l'orchestre Bafing Jazz Mamou, alors si quelqu'un connaît, qu'il s'exprime.

Balla & Ses Balladins (Guinea/1974)


Balla et ses Balladins (also known as Orchestre du Jardin de Guinée) were a dance-music orchestra formed in Conakry in 1962 following the break-up of the Syli Orchestre National, Guinea's first state-sponsored group.

Also called the Orchestre du Jardin de Guinée, after the "bar dancing" music venue in Conakry that still exists today, the group made a number of recordings for the state-owned Syliphone label and become one of the first modern dance musical groups in Guinea to use traditional musical instruments and fuse together traditional Guinean folk music with more modern influences.


GUINEA: "LAND OF THE BLACKS"

Painting from Gwenaelle Trolez

The name Guinea comes from the Berber term "aginaw" via Portugese; it originally meant "black" or, in context, "land of the blacks".
For those who did not manage to catch those "Syliphone Discotheques" on Black man land's blog, here is my selection:





Balla et ses Balladins:
"Ancien combattant "

Kaloum Star: "Maliba"

Camayenne Sofa: "Manalaby"










Super Boiro Band: "Daba"

Horoya Band: "Kulumba"

Horoya Band: "Aristes"