Lionel Belmondo / Belmondo,Stephane - Calypso Diola [LP]

In 2005, Frédéric Galliano, founder of the Frikyiwa label, decided to put it on hold for a few years.In his archives, many albums recorded during his years of travels in Africa remain unreleased.In the context of the reactivation of the Frikyiwa label, the album Lionel and Stéphane Belmondo feat. Kéba Kébé Diolas Orchestra: "Calypso Diola" is therefore being released today.It was in the heart of Casamance, in the village of Bignona, that this album was recorded, in a house typical of the region, built of earth, with thick walls producing a warm acoustic open to the outside world. The idea of Frédéric Galliano was to bring together the Belmondo brothers with Diola culture, renowned for it's distinctive percussion combining wood and struck metal, as well as singular instruments such as the ekontine (a four-string guitar) or Diola flutes. The vocal melodies typical of Casamance are also strong markers of this album recorded over a few days, live and in an improvisation inherent to jazz.Often composed as duos, with the exception of "Osoforal," recalling a certain 1960s jazz, the tracks of the album are marked by an artistic direction that presents the Belmondo brothers in a more stripped-down light than usual. Composed of duos or slow tempos, these tracks and their particular recording approach give this album an original colour in which each part expresses it's specificity of improvised jazz and Diola culture. Sometimes tinged with humour (Bach to Casamance or Calypso Diola) or with greater softness (Casa Sport), what is delivered here is a truly original and creative recording.It is also important to place this album in it's context: recorded in 2002, it was at the time quite unprecedented to have this kind of in situ encounter between European and African musicians. It should therefore be listened to in this specific light. It nonetheless remains both contemporary and timeless.