Awale Jant Band – Yewoulen – Wake Up (ARC Music, 2020)
Awale Jant Band is a great London-based Afro-Funk band led by Senegalese singer-songwriter Biram Seck and French guitarist Thibaut Remy. The group skillfully combines Senegalese traditions, funk, soul and Latin American rhythms.
On Yewoulen you’ll find a formidable rhythm section featuring traditional Senegalese sabar drums, drum set and bass along with a powerful brass section and creative guitar lines. Biram Seck has an engaging, soulful voice that he uses to deliver lead and overdubbed backing vocals; he sings in Wolof, English and French.
Vocalist Biram Seck was born in Dakar. He is the son of a gawlo (story-teller and musician). Biram’s father played the xalam, a West African string instrument. Biram acquired his ability to tell stories from his father at an early age.
Awale Jant Band: Biram Seck (Senegal) on vocals; Thibaut Remy (France) on guitar, Moog, organ and piano; Kevin Toublant (UK) and Michael Idowu (Nigeria) on bass; Ben Brown (UK) on drums; Kaw Secka (Senegal and Gambia) on sabar drums and tama (talking drum); Medoune Ndiaye (Senegal) on sabar drums; John Martin (UK) on saxophone; and Laurence Wilkins (UK) on trumpet.
Guests: Joe Auckland on trumpet; Bern Somers on tenor saxophone; Harry Greene on baritone saxophone; Bob Dowell on trombone; Ed Rieband on trombone; Jozef Berk on timbales and congas; Gareth Locklane on flute; Aaron Liddard on baritone saxophone; Dominic Ntoumos on trumpet.
Buy Yewoulen – Wake Up from Amazon.com. Buy Yewoule from Amazon UK.