Billy Konate - Siyara Manden Mansa

[bubudi]

front cover - nankouma's 'siyara manden mansa'

Siyara Manden Mansa.jpg (50.57 KiB) Viewed 338 times

tracklist:

1. Djaa (4:28)
2. Dunungbe (4:26)
3. Fakoli (4:25)
4. Geberedu (9:47)
5. Gidamba (5:35)
6. Ikankodota - Kassa (4:04)
7. Kawa (4:43)
8. Konkoba (4:45)
9. Mendiani (3:20)
10. Soli (5:33)
11. Soliba (3:44)
12. Soliwulen (6:18)

[Dugafola]

this album is very good. it's Billy's best effort to date as far as substance and production.
billy's playing is very much in the pocket on all tracks. dunun playing is pretty good although the sangban player makes a mistake when he tries to chauffe for djaa.

the track list includes a lot of standards with fakoli and gberedu/sankaranba being the exception.

my only criticism is that the vox are too high in the mix and 2nd soloist is barely audible.

[guedom]

a little tip for the cover art, the boy in the photo is Nankouma @ Gbessia in 1988

[michi]

I just ordered the CD (from cdandlp.com). Wasn't that easy to find--there don't seem to be many places that stock it.

While searching, I found mention of the CD on Uschi Billmeier's site. Apparently, Billy has also made a companion teaching DVD, but I can't find details about that anywhere. Does anyone have any info on the DVD?

Thanks,

Michi.

[bubudi]

the dvd features 3 rhythms for beginners and 3 for advanced students. it should be on sale any time now. keep an eye out on billy's website.

[Eason]

Billy has talk a little bit about his DVD on this youtube clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjWsW7BFjo8

[michi]

I got in touch with Billy directly at konatekounda@yahoo.fr. He said he'd send me a copy directly. Cost is 25€ plus shipping.

Cheers,

Michi.

[Dugafola]

nice.

let me know what you think about it.

i met billy in 2005 and he was very nice and hospitable. he then came thru the US last year on a brief tour that i ended up missing.

my friend in portland had him play for his dance class and said his playing was super sweet. very much in the pocket, conversing with duns, spitting trad. language and hitting all the marks with style. he's had some of the best play for his class too: Mamady, Bolokada, Karamba etc etc.