Bolo (Bolo Music, 2015)
Bolo is the title of the superb debut album by a trio of northern California based multi-instrumentalists named Bolo. The world music group celebrates the Divine by using an arsenal of musical instruments from various parts of the world, developing exquisite pieces that blend world music with jazz rhythms and stylings.
The album’s repertory includes original material as well as compositions and melodies by well-known artists in the world music scene: Ayub Ogada, Hamza El Din, Ali Farka Toure, and Jai Uttal. There are beautiful combinations of central African kalimba with Afro-Cuban chants, delightful bansuri (India bamboo flute) melodies and outstanding drumming throughout the album.
The majority of the songs and instrumentals are dedicated to a deity or spiritual beings from various traditions of the world. Bolo’s musicians include Surya Prakasha on drumset, vocals and harmonium; Eliyahu Sills on on ney and bansuri flutes, oud, and upright bass; Evan Fraser on West African kamale ngoni, kalimba, and percussion.
“From the time we first played together we knew we had the same approach in terms of trusting the groove,” says Eliyahu Sills. “We don’t feel we need to get our egos involved; we take turns in the lead with the others supporting.”
Bolo got started when Evan Fraser, who has been involved in many global music projects, including Dirtwire, met Eliyahu Sills on stage at a popular festival in the West Coast of the United States called Burning Man. That led to his participation on the album by Eliyahu & The Qadim Ensemble. Surya Prakasha, one of the finest drummers in the San Francisco Bay Area jazz scene, already knew Sills. When they finally played together, everything felt right and Bolo was formed.
Bolo is a beautifully crafted recording that combines stellar jazz and world music performances inspired by the musics of Central and West Africa, Cuba and India.
Buy the album from cdbaby.com
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
