The list of collaborations Alune Wade enjoyed over the decades read like a Who’s Who from the worlds of jazz and crossover music: Joe Zawinul, Marcus Miller, Oumou Sangare, Bobby McFerrin, Youssou N’Dour, Cheick Tidiane Seck, Harold Lopez-Nussa, Lokua Kanza, Blick Bassy, Fatoumata Diawara… the list goes on. His inspirations – Weather Report, Charlie Parker, Salif Keita, to name but a few – reflect musical choices he made. Many were distilled in explorations with the aptly named University of Gnawa, an ‘institution’ Alune co-founded with the mesmeric Aziz Sahmaoui – the virtuoso singer and sinter player, formerly of L’Orchestre National de Barbès, also makes an appearance in Sultan.
Includes unlimited streaming of Sultan
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Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
limited edition gatefold vinyl, with extra track
Includes unlimited streaming of Sultan
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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The title alludes to the borders closing to immigration. But the question should be: why do some people risk own their lives to leave? How can we grow? The liveliness of the introduction and its lightness, reflect the daily rush of a childhood moving from one place to another. With the natural progression of the days, how do we pass from the insouciance of youth to the desire for freedom? The flute, the guembri, the crotales and the rhythm of Gnawa music take us back to the sub-Saharan origins of the descendants of slaves. The routes towards North Africa are always heavy with symbols. Those that take to them are fleeing war, poverty, regions that have been dried up by global warming or by agriculture that is in ruin. They dream of an Eldorado. Of more freedom. But, first and foremost, of survival. They leave in spite of themselves. They are forced to cross deserts, the Mediterranean, risking their lives. Voices and whispers bring hope, the wind, the breeze which caress everyone’s face.
Dearest Arooj, firstly thank you. My brother died this year n what can be said about such loss n sadness. I saw n heard you at The end of the Road in England. I spent many years in India n love all the music, poetry of your heritage. Thankyou Arooj❤️ ben1769