In Search of the Lost Riddim took Jamaican guitar virtuoso Ernest Ranglin to Senegal for the first time since the mid 1970's, when he toured there with Jimmy Cliff. On that tour, interestingly, he met a young upstart named Baaba Maal. In Search of the Lost Riddim represents the realization of a...
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In Search of the Lost Riddim took Jamaican guitar virtuoso Ernest Ranglin to Senegal for the first time since the mid 1970's, when he toured there with Jimmy Cliff. On that tour, interestingly, he met a young upstart named Baaba Maal. In Search of the Lost Riddim represents the realization of a 20-year dream of Ranglin's: to return to Africa to record with African musicians. Ranglin is joined here by top flight Senegalese musicians and the album is graced with compositional and vocal contributions by Baaba Maal and Mansour Seck, plus stunning vocal debuts by Alioune Mbaye Nder and 14 year old chanteuse Cisse Diamba Kanoute.
"Our first encounter with the Senegalese musicians on this recording took place at the home of Baaba Maal, where we dined, drank tea and played music together. Baaba Maal and Mansour Seck sang and played guitar. Barou Sall took out his Hoddu, Bada Seck played the Djembe and very soon after, Ernest and I joined this special musical conversation. It was a beautiful and unforgettable evening.
"This recording shows the artistry of Ernest Ranglin. Ernest's musical language is rich with a vocabulary of mento, calypso, work songs, ska, reggae, (some of which he helped to create) as well as blues, jazz and Cuban son. In each composition he finds a common dialect, blending Senegalese music with playful melodies and rhythms. Ernest was the youngest (in spirit) most energetic and wittiest man in the Studio! When Poppa (as we affectionately call him) plays, he makes us come alive and be happy. I hope you will be able to share some of the fun we experienced playing this music." -- Ira Coleman
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