|
|
 |
Baaba Maal Serves Up A Mild Brew
|
| Click Here to go back. |
The Washington Post, Baaba Maal Serves Up A Mild Brew >>
The opening moments of Baaba Maal's performance Wednesday at Lisner Auditorium evoked his home, the Pulaar-speaking region of northern Senegal.
Underneath a large African quilt suspended over the stage, the singer-guitarist alone performed "Baayo," with the members of his band silently seated on the floor around him.
(One member of Maal's entourage even served tea.) Midway through the second song, the six musicians began to move into position and gradually assembled a rippling tapestry of sound.
Most of Maal's '90s albums are expansively eclectic, incorporating everything from electronic dance beats to Celtic melodies. At Lisner, however, the sound was more traditional. Maal's high, commanding tenor was framed by three guitars, two drum sets and a khalam (a Senegalese lute).
Rather than produce a wealth of timbres, the group played tightly interlocked patterns in tones that were mostly chiming and sweet. The effect was propulsive yet gentle, more mesmerizing than rousing.
Despite the kinetic polyrhythms, the audience stayed still until the end of the main set, when one of the guitarists put down his instrument and did an acrobatic routine. This inspired some people to dance onstage and shower the musicians with money, as is customary at African-music concerts. The strutting began again when Maal returned for an encore, but he closed the show a cappella, with a spare but resonant song that exemplified the concert's serene spirit. 03/19/04
|
| Click Here to go back. |
|
 |
|
|
|
