Common Ground, CD Review >>
The original African-Celtic crossover band returns with a joyful noise, as players from Europe's Celtic fringes and West Africa create one of the most original world fusions anywhere. Led by Outback co-founder Martin Cradick, Baka Beyond's spirited genre-benders have enlivened concert stages for nearly a decade, leaving audiences worldwide clamoring for more. While they produced four CDs on the Hannibal label a few yrs back, this album has been circulating around Europe with great acclaim while waiting for US distribution. Wisely, Narada picked up the ball and has made it readily available. Original members such as vocalist Su Hart and the dazzling violinist Paddy Le Mercier are still on board, while others add balafon, kora, uilliann pipes, djembe, cabasa, & bass. Baka tribes people from Lupe, a small rainforest village near the Congo/Cameroon border, contribute indigenous percussion & vocals as well. The resulting brew of cultural influences, rhythms and spirit make for a decidedly good-natured and lively bunch of musical gems. 03/15/03
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