Chicago Illinois, USA – Senegal’s seminal band Orchestra Baobab will be back at HotHouse on Friday night, March 25, for 2 spectacular shows. The shows begin at 7:30 & 10:30pm.
Senegal’s Orchestra Baobab was one of the essential bands of world music throughout West Africa and Europe – blending the electric guitar and cool vibe of youth culture with more traditional local songs and beats, into a warm, relaxed, original sound all their own.
They recently released their first studio album in nearly 20 years — Specialist In All Styles – and it quickly ended up atop many a critic’s list. In 2004, Orchestra Baobab was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World Music Album and was also the featured artist for a VH1 concert special featuring Trey Anastasio (of Phish) and Dave Matthews (who traveled to Senegal to be a part of the filming).
Orchestra Baobab’s legendary status among connoisseurs of West African popular music is based on the band’s warm, relaxed blend of Cuban Son, Rumba, and Bolero and local Senegalese rhythms and warm, soulful vocal inflections, cool nocturnal sax and fleet-fingered, filigreed African electric guitar.
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.
