Mokhtar
Samba
Video and Audio
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Mokhtar Samba's Moroccan and Senegalese heritage, mixed
with the jazz and Afro-fusion atmosphere of Paris,
has created
one of the most exciting artists of our time.
This outstanding drummer and percussionist
is a vital figure in the multicultural music scene ; his powerful drumming can be heard throughout the world on
recordings and tours with Youssou N’Dour, Manu Dibango, Carlos Santana, Salif Keita, Alpha Blondy,
Carlinhos Brown, Richard Bona, Ultramarine, Joe Zawinul, Jean-Luc Ponty, Jaco
Pastorius, Eddy Louiss and other top jazz and fusion groups in
Europe.
His
multi-African heritage mixed with
his insatiable quest for drumming
knowledge and his pursuit to blend African
rhythmic
systems with Western drumming techniques, made him adapt North and West African percussion rhythms on the drumset.
This groundbreaking book
(48 pages in English and
French) and CD ( featuring 96 tracks of drumming) became a "Best-Seller" and was acclaimed
worldwide by rmusic reviewers and by most of the biggest drummers : Dennis Chambers, Vinnie Colaiuta, Billy Martin, Chris Parker... THE reference in this domain !
"This is the best explanation of
African rhythms that I’ve heard. I really love the way Mokhtar breaks everything
down and presents it to you. I like the way he thinks and plays when he’s behind
a drumset.' Dennis Chambers
"Finally, a book that includes North African rhythms. Respect
! " Billy Martin
"The grooves just LEAP off the page! Mohktar Samba’s illustrations of
African Rhythm’s are wonderfully insightful, enriching, and masterfully done.
Thank you, Mohktar for enlightening all of us ! " Vinnie Colaiuta
"Each groove is a dance, and until you dance the patterns,
they may seem daunting. Dance first, and read the notes after, then the grooves
will explode." Chris Parker
Mokhtar Samba's drum lessons take students through
several rhythms from all over the continent of Africa. These African rhythms include Gnawa (North
Africa), Maghreb (North Africa), Mangambe (Cameroon), Bikutsi (Cameroon),
Doudoumba (Guinea & Mali), Sabar (Senegal) ....
He
breaks each rhythm down into movements or exercises that help students develop
the coordination necessary to play the various patterns that offer multiple
variations of these rhythms.
After touring with Youssou N'Dour in 1998, he began to
work with the latter's musical director, Habib Faye, who first gave him the idea
of making a solo album. Back in Paris, Mokhtar sought help from Celia Reggiani,
an excellent pianist and arranger, with whom he established a warm friendship. Mokhtar also called on a new
generation of musicians from different cultures, such as Jean-Philippe Rykiel,
the vocalists Tom Diakite, Mama Keia, Moussa Diouf and Camel de Sout-el-Atlas,
plus a host of gifted bass-players, Michel Alibo, Silvain Marc, Linley Marthe,
Etienne Mbappe and Guy N'Sangué, among others. "Dounia", his first solo album, was born.
Mokhtar and the musicians that joined him in this musical
adventure, share the same dream
: taking black music
from their native lands and open it up to the rest of the
world. “For many years my goal
was to find a sound, a colour, which would become my musical
hallmark.” (Mokhtar)
This goal has now been achieved. "His music is clear, assured,
skilful, deeply rooted in the African tradition and resolutely innovative,
groovy and open to the World."
'I don’t want to only make music for dancing. I speak five languages
French, English, Spanish, Arabic, and a little bit of Senegalese. It’s an
advantage and disadvantage to me because I can see things from a lot of
different perspectives. I like my music the same way—mixed.”
(Mokhtar)
"The album
features the malem Abdeslam, grand master of Gnawa, and evokes the Senegalese
homeland through the use made of that country's fire drums. A strong Mandinko
influence can be heard on the record, a reminscence of Mokhtar's collaborations
with Salif Keita, Kante Manfila, Ousmane Kouyaté and Cheick Tidiane, and an
obvious trace of its cultural legacy."
"This "drummer for the great" has blended bright
arpeggios on the kora, insistent spirals of the Sahelian bards and the ornate
style of the voices, as well as jazz improvisations and hints of classical
music. The music thus moves between the white Africa of the Berber nomads and
the black Africa of the great Empires fed by the Niger."
Possible Formulas :
Octet :
Mokhtar Samba (dr) - Woz Kaly (vocals) -
Laurent Bonnet (saxophone) - Jeff Kelner (guitar) -
Michel Lecoq (piano) -
Jean-Philippe Rikyel (keyboards) - N'Doumbé Djengué (bass) - Tafa Cissé
(percussions)
Quintet :
Mokhtar Samba (dr) - Woz Kaly (vocals) -
Laurent Bonnet (saxophone) - Michel Lecoq (piano) - N'Doumbé Djengué
(bass)
