SAMBA Sene and Diwan always draw a crowd. With headliners Louis-Jean and The Irie Rainbow unable to attend due to circumstances beyond the organisers' control, it was left to Senegalese frontman Sene and his Afro-beat combo Diwan to keep the party gr
ooving at this monthly melting pot of African roots music. Locked in the one groove (and it is the one groove), their opening set gave Jamaican singer George Prophet the opportunity to embark on his stream-of-consciousness style of singing.
Meanwhile, Jerry Boweh – he of Zuba Bassabeat – cut up the evening with a short, acoustic set that, despite being more than a little out of tune, was never short on soul or spirit. After a quick change of clothes, Samba Sene and Diwan returned to the stage for another half-hour of rocksteady bass-lines, bewitching beats and wandering guitar lines.
Devoid of pretentiousness, and bestowing a certain naïve charm, the emphasis was on kicking back and having a good time. To criticise the band's lack of cohesion and almost non-existent arrangements would be to miss the point entirely. That said, had the band's usual horn section been on hand, a three-star review might have become four.
Ndaje, then? An eclectic mash-up of artists whose musical foundations have African roots. While the word "slick" might never be associated with the live production side of things, if it's authentic, down-to-earth music with an African connection you're after, look no further.
The full article contains 256 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
