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African bass lines?

#42
Here is a list of African-based recordings I have picked recently on eMusic. Most are compilations which I find helpful when getting into a new style.

1) The Indestructible Beat of Soweto - Volume One by Various Artists

2) Nigeria 70 - Lagos Jump by Various Artists

3) Soundway Records Presents The World Ends Afro Rock and Psychedelia in 1970s Nigeria by Various Artists

4) Nigeria Rock Special: Psychedelic Afro-rock & Fuzz Funk In 1970's Nigeria by Various Artists

5) Nigeria Disco Funk Special: The Sound Of The Underground Lagos Dancefloor 1974-79 by Various Artists

6) The Danque!!! by Various Artists - Afrodisiac

7) Faso Kanou by Manjul

8) Try And Love by Ofege

9) The Very Best Of Manu Dibango: Afro Soul Jazz From The Original Makossa Man by Manu Dibango

Also, +1 on the Oumou Sangaré. I was able to catch her show about 5 times in Summer 2009. And a +1 on Tiniwaren; saw this show twice last year. Also appropriately amazing.
 
#43
Another vote for Baaba Maal. I backline teched a show of his, had no idea who he was and I got to spend some time with the entire band. Most of my time was spent with the great percussionist Mamabe. I was jacked up for a few days, wonderful music.
 
#44
thomashawk said:
My quick capsule review of "African Bass Bible" featuring Kibisi Douglas DVD.

First of all, Kibisi Douglas is not a legendary or even well known player. He is talented, but by no means mind-blowing.

Regarding the DVD - the production quality is very low budget and very European. There is a 5 minute interview with Kibisi mostly focused on his right hand technique. It is a very specialized approach, but I can see the value of developing it. Then there is 90+ minutes of exercises; 20+ playing examples. After each playing example there is a solo'd drum machine track to practice the given example (an ok feature, but kind of annoying). The "exercises" are basically just grooves in Kibisi's style which is primarily soukous. Many of the grooves are variations on previous examples, and there is no verbal explanation of any kind clarifying the context of the groove/style, etc.

This is certainly not an "African Bass Bible." It is not comprehensive by any means; do not expect some along the lines of "The Slap Bass Program" by Alexis Sklarevski. Kibisi's DVD is definitely a one trick pony, but it is a groovy pony. The DVD does have instructional value. I like it, and I can see it benefiting my playing, but I would have felt better paying $15 instead of $25.

I do expect to have fun learning these grooves though.
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Glad I found this review! I have been curious about it ever since I watched the extract on Youtube. I'm very familiar with that playing style but never witnessed any formal teaching on the subject!

ps: oh yeah, heard about a cameroonian bassist called Aladji Toure. He has a method book out there.
 
#46
Read both articles. The author summarized it well. In fact the African music is generally dance-oriented (except for some mandinga and northern types of music which are more lyrical). It is not unusual to hear singers play around few words repetitively throughout an entire song. However, arrangers try to incorporate western concepts into their music in order to increase its appeal to an international audience.

For anybody trying to learn African music (the rhythm-oriented one like makossa, soukouss, zouglou, coupe-decale, zaiko, etc. look those up on YouTube), my advice would be don’t worry too much about the notes or scales at first but rather feel the music. The rhythm almost always contains some kind of Clave. Try to identify that. Usually the bass line accentuates it or dances around it. It’s very similar to the Clave in Salsa and other Afro Latin music.

I have a tune called with that Afro vibe (“seen alive”) on my myspace profile. The basic drum pattern hides within itself what is usually referred to as 2:3 Clave in Afro Cuban music. Yet my bass line seems to follow a 4/4 time signature. I think "Clave" when I play it.
Link Removed (forgive my keys!)
 
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#48
Dear all, for those who are looking for the book of Aladji Toure, I got it finally shipepd to me!!!! I'll post a review, although I'm a beginner, so please don't expect a pro comment. I'm happy I got it, I feel so lucky. I waited 21 days, it was like an eternity!! yesteday my teacher lent me a small amp, and today i got the book in the post!!! :bassist: :hyper:
bye
S
 
#50
I feel two basic examples of an 'african' approach of bass playing haven't been mentioned yet. First Orchestre Baobab, because they're reaaly good ánd their africanisation of latin rhythm's is very instructional of what makes things sound african. As far as there beïng such a thin as african. On the other end there's Abdullah Ibrahim (or dollar Brand) In i.e. Whoza Mtwana you can hear it's not just the percussive aspect in african bass.

I once had the chance to play in Mali with several Malinese musicians, wich was a big learning event for me. What stuck with me the most was that besides all the rhytmic detail the timing is always extremely exact. In Europe i've played with lots of percussionists who try to emulate some kind of loose african feel, but al the actual african percussionists I've played with are not loose at all but mathematically precise. the same thing should apply for bass.
 
#51
Colonel_Claypoo said:
hello,

i'm really starting to like all those great bass grooves i hear in african music. can somebody point out to me how i can develop my own or where i can find inspiration? (artists, videos, etc.)

much appreciated, thanks.
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Sometimes it's easier to hear the rhythm by listening to African/Western Pop Fusion. The familiar Western Pop treatment is a good background & highlights the African syncopation. YRMV.

Stewart Copeland did a collaboration album with African musicians in 1990. It's been re-mastered. I especially like the background vocals by The Screaming Orphans (from Ireland); http://www.amazon.com/Rhythmatist-S...64P6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1286460322&sr=1-2

Mickey Hart has done several disks. Here are 2;
http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Drum-Reis-Mickey-Hart/dp/B0013LL00E/ref=pd_krex_shvl_1
http://www.amazon.com/Supralingua-R...=sr_1_8?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1286460427&sr=1-8

Of course, Paul Simon's 'Graceland" is classic & worth a listen.
 
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#52
251 said:
Stewart Copeland did a collaboration album with African musicians in 1990. It's been re-mastered. I especially like the background vocals by The Screaming Orphans (from Ireland); http://www.amazon.com/Rhythmatist-S...64P6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1286460322&sr=1-2
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It was more like 1984 or 1985 although the CD may have come out in 1990. 1985 according to Wikipedia which means it must be true! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stewart_Copeland.

But it's a really good album.

KO
 
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#53
Colonel_Claypoo said:
hello,

i'm really starting to like all those great bass grooves i hear in african music. can somebody point out to me how i can develop my own or where i can find inspiration? (artists, videos, etc.)

much appreciated, thanks.
Click to expand...


A guy named Dele Sosimi..Album named: Identity
Think Fela Kuti + James Brown + John Coltrane + Roy Hargrove

You need to look it up NOW!
It is the BEST BASS album that's NOT a bass album..maybe ever

The intro solo on track 7 (fretless with Wah pedal) is one of the hippest things I ever heard.
 
#55
rosanne said:
Try Musicroom.com for Les Secretes, but it's expensive (27 pounds plus shipping) and I don't know if they have it in stock. Edit: It's just under $50.00 including shipping.
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Excellent! Thank you. I'll be reaching out to them.

HeadyVan Halen said:
A guy named Dele Sosimi..Album named: Identity
Think Fela Kuti + James Brown + John Coltrane + Roy Hargrove
Click to expand...

I just grabbed this off of eMusic. Looking forward to checking it out! Thanks for recommendation!
 
#56
kraigo said:
It was more like 1984 or 1985 although the CD may have come out in 1990. 1985 according to Wikipedia which means it must be true! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stewart_Copeland.

But it's a really good album.

KO
Click to expand...
Copyright date on the CD is 1990 but you're right. I seem to remember hearing it 1st on cassette tape, coming from my daughter's bedroom. Ditto Eddy Van Halen, John Melancamp & more. 8-)
 
#58
Loop a few bars of some Tony Allen grooves and get the feel. The main thing about the music is its hypnotic. the bass lines create the movement of the hypnosis. Not geting in the way of the melody lines, horns, vocals, etc. But they carry them and define their outline.

ALso watch "Music is the weapon" both the english and french versions. REQUIRED viewing.
 

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