Rarely can history be made twice but such is the case with Guinea's top dance band.  Formed in 1961 from a scattering of Conakry's top musicians, Bembeya Jazz dominated African clubs for decades until an abrupt ending in 1988.  Reforming in 2002 to perform at the European Musiques Metisses festival (and subsequently record this album), Bembeya is an updated anthology of older surehsots.  Times change, but some thing remain: the bands ungodly blend of Sekou "Diamond Fingers" Diabate's gorgeous, rapid guitar lines within an instinctually educated percussive section led by Papa Kouyate, triad vocals, Hawaiian steel-slide ambiance, and upbeat saxophonic meters all factor into one of the years top African-forget that global-releases.  These songs may have been written thirty years ago, but the world still hasn't caught up.
 
-Derek Beres