For Baka Beyond, global fusion is a way of life. In 1992, Martin Cradick & Su Hart visited and played with the Baka people in the Cameroon rainforest. The resulting group pioneered the Afro-Celt groove, and five albums later (four for Joe Boyd’s Hannibal label), Baka Beyond is a collaborative music process, learned from the Baka people – ‘everyone to be listened to’.
Baka Beyond is an ever-evolving world music project involving musicians from five countries in West & Central Africa and Europe. The African players,, everyone an acknowledged virtuoso with a parallel career in their own right,, meet the Northern European traditions where Martin, Su, and Breton fiddle maestro Paddy Le Mercier learned their music. Over the years, they have got to know each other and each other’s way of working Baka Beyond live or in the studio is a living lesson in communication, in passing the energy round.
The relationship with the Baka themselves grows closer by the year. Regular return visits keep the inspiration strong, but have also kept Martin &Su in touch with what is needed for them to survive and preserve their culture. Royalties due for the gift of a rhythm or a tune are distributed among the musicians’ communities and for projects in association with charities such as the World Rainforest Movement. The group themselves are also heavily involved in cultural and environmental education in Britain.
Discography
Spirit of the Forest (Hannibal Records HNCD 1377, 1993)
The Meeting Pool (Hannibal Records HNCD 1388, 1995)
Journey Between (Hannibal Records HNCD 1415, 1998)
Sogo (Hannibal Records HNCD 145, 2)
East to West (March Hare Music MAHA CD18/USA: Narada 43725, 2003)
Rhythm Tree (2005)
Baka Live (2007)
Beyond the Forest (2009)
After the Tempest (2014)
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.
