Stock: 
Format: 
Release Date: 26-10-1998
Label: Celestial Harmonies
Catalog Number: 13097-2
Barcode: 13711309720
Musical Style: World
Track Listing:
| Disc 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waraba - We have to do it [05:45] | 6 | Fonikeya Marassi - Advice for the youth [04:27] |
| 2 | Fekerema - The only thing [05:22] | 7 | Dialogue De Djembes - Drum concert [05:03] |
| 3 | Mamy Kouni - Here it is good [06:05] | 8 | Kaloum Tonkhouma - Souvenir from Kaloum [05:08] |
| 4 | Auto Peep-Peep [04:28] | 9 | Takadja [04:36] |
| 5 | Wula - The forest [06:29] | ||
Description:
Takadja means to vibrate while dancing in the Guéré language of the Ivory Coast. It also describes how the music of West Africa affects listeners, especially when played by an international ensemble of percussionists, dancers and vocalists who mix equal doses of ecstatic virtuosity, technical precision and respect for tradition, with the passion that comes from truly celebrating life. Takadja's self–titled debut on Celestial Harmonies is filled with many of the infectious grooves, jubilant songs and vivacious, polyrhythmic drumming sessions that have thrilled audiences during the group's numerous festival and television performances. The Montréal–based ensemble is comprised of artists from Canada, Senegal and Guinea, all of whom have studied with master musicians throughout West Africa. They bring with them direct experiences of music's role in traditional culture, as well as a seasoned knowledge of the instruments of that region. The richly–hued sounds of the xylophone-like balafon and the scintillating strummings of the balafon kora, a twenty–one string harp-lute, originally entertained Malinké royalty. The thick, hollow sounds of the balafon kirin logdrum, on the other hand, were used to send messages between villages in the densely forested regions of Guinea. The intricate rhythms and timbres of the djembé drums were an integral part of rite–of–passage fiestas commemorating marriages, baptisms and circumcisions. Dialogue De Djembés, a drum concert first orchestrated by the legendary drum-master, Sékou Camara Cobra, combines rhythmic sentences from various ethnic groups in Guinea, Senegal and the Ivory Coast. Takadja is dedicated to the memory of this inspirational musician, dancer and singer who died last year. This recording was produced by .
Biography:
Formed in 1989 by Canadian–born Francine Martel, Takadja is a highly artistic and dynamic group bringing together superb African and Canadian talent passionately specializing in African music. The artistic and musical director of the group, Francine has been playing the drums and percussion for twenty years. In 1980, her first trip to Africa, Francine discovered the vast number of polyrhythms which have become an inexhaustible source for her passion for drumming. In 1986, during a stay in Ivory Coast, Francine met Sékou Camara Cobra who became her drum master. Born in Conakry, Guinea, Oumar N'Diaye is an acrobat–dancer, choreographer, percussionist and singer and shares the artistic direction of the group with Francine. Oumar began dancing at age seven, received his first award at age ten and at 19 was recruited as a dancer/actor by the national troupe Les Grands Ballets Africains of the Republic of Guinea. Upon completion of his artistic and dance training, Oumar moved on, establishing himself in Abidjan (Ivory Coast), Europe and Canada, where he lives today, performing as a dancer and percussionist with Takadja. Robert Lépine, a native of Chicoutimi, Québec, holds a master's degree in music (xylophone and percussion) and has studied balafon with master musicians in Guinea. Robert has played djembé and balafon with Takadja since 1989. Born in Dakar, Sénégal, Youssou Seck is a specialist of the m'balax music. He moved to Canada and joined Takadja in 1992, playing mainly the kenkeni and dundumba drums. Montréal–born kora player Nathalie Dussault perfected her art in Africa with master musicians Foday Kalissa from Guinea and Toumany Kouyaté from Sénégal. She has been playing with Takadja since 1992. Takadja is joined with guest performers Gaston Breton on back-up vocals and accoustic guitar; Sylvain Leroux on the serdou peul flute; and special guest artist and producer Steve Roach on the didgeridoo and rattles.
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