Karukera Kizomba

Le Sahel

Sahel_Def (1)

 

THE VIBRANT RETURN OF LE SAHEL ORCHESTRA, THE LEGENDARY BAND FROM DAKAR

Dakar, late 60s. Salsa had become increasingly popular in Africa, in Senegal particularly. Radio Senegal enthusiastically blasted Latin music. Afro-Cuban rhythms were the rage everywhere you danced. Enthusiasm spontaneously rose for a music style that was rooted in the heart of the African continent — and which has not stopped to influence African music ever since. Something new and powerful was galvanizing the Dakar music scene.

In 1972, Le Sahel –a nightclub that would become legendary– opened in Dakar.The owner of Le Sahel, Diouga Kebe, who had become a millionaire in Kinshasa, was looking for exceptional musicians. He wanted to form a prestigious band, able to compete and win against the orchestras that were dazzling the largest African capitals : Bembeya Jazz from Guinea, le Tout-Puissant Poly-Rythmo de Cotonouand especially Franco’s OK Jazz in Kinshasa.

In 1974, the iconic band of the club was finally in place. 13 musicians were led by vocalist and percussionist Idrissa “Idy” Diop, organist and guitarist Cheikh Tidiane Tall and saxophonist Thierno Koite. As it was usual at the time, the band was named from the club in which they played : Le Sahel de Dakar.

Le Sahel de Dakar quickly built a fine reputation performing an eclectic repertoire with influences ranging from rock, soul, rhythm and blues, international hits from America and France, to Congolese rumba, and especially Afro-Cuban rhythms in which the musicians excelled. Idrissa enthusiastically recounts the magic nights at Le Sahel when the orchestra shared the stage with the Cuban and Latin American musicians who were visiting Senegal : Johnny Pacheco, Celia Cruz, but also James Brown, Manu Dibango, Franco, Tabou Combo, Michael Jackson, Johnny Hallyday and even Claude François! Musical nightlife of Dakar was exceptional. Pacheco even composed a piece titled “Dakar Punto Final”.

Le Sahel de Dakar orchestra brought a genuine uniqueness to Senegalese dance music. Increasingly bold and inhabited musicians strayed from the model and mixed traditional serererhythms based on sabar drums with distinct Cuban rhythms like rumba, guajira, son montuno… Le Sahel exerted its fascination on every musician in town. At only twelve years old, Yousou N’Dour would creep in almost every night. It is at Le Sahel in Dakar that was born Mbalax, the music that would later conquer West Africa and beyond.

However, Le Sahel did not last long. They released only one album, Bamba, in 1975. The album included 6 tracks. The title track is the first Mbalax song ever recorded.

Idrissa Diop left for France and then United States. He worked with the greatest, including Carlos Santana. Cheikh Tidiane Tall has remained in Senegal where he has become a sought-after composer and arranger. Thierno Koite joined the Super Etoile de Dakar and Youssou N’Dour. He also plays with the Orchestra Baobab.

Time went by. Idrissa Diop finally came back to Senegal. The three men came together again, each of them rich of his own experience and with vivid memories of Le Sahel de Dakar. Afro-Cuban fever was still burning… Idrissa Diop decided to reform Le Sahel and revive the legend and the band went back to the studio for unforgettable sessions. The Sahel returned to the pieces played at the time, all tracks featured are part of their 1970s’ repertoire. The level of passion, energy and rough sound that used to electrify the audience is still present. Modern technology perfectly renders the full, rich and slightly veiled voice of Idrissa Diop. The swaying organ and the oh-so-inventive guitar of Cheikh Tidiane Tall work wonders and constantly weave new correspondences between Senegal and the Caribbean. The brass section led by a fiery Thierno Koité surrounds the salsa riffs sparks with African roundness. The timbales and the haunting clave are irresistible.

Welcome to Dakar de Cuba! Let yourself be enchanted, “encantado” by the powerful, the legendary, the eternal Sahel de Dakar. Mueve la cintura!

 

LE RETOUR PERCUTANT DU PUISSANT ET LÉGENDAIRE ORCHESTRE DU SAHEL DE DAKAR

 

Dakar, fin des années 60. La salsa embrase le Sénégal et l’Afrique en général. Radio Sénégal a l’oreille latino. Les rythmes afro-cubains font fureur partout où l’on danse. Un engouement naturel pour une musique qui plonge ses origines au coeur du continent noir et qui n’a cessé d’influencer les musiques modernes d’Afrique. Quelque chose de nouveau et d’important est entré en ébullition dans le chaudron musical de Dakar.

1972, ouverture d’un night club qui deviendra légendaire : Le Sahel de Dakar. Le propriétaire du Sahel, Diouga Kebe qui a fait fortune à Kinshasa, recherche pour son établissement des musiciens d’exception. Il veut une formation prestigieuse, capable de rivaliser et de s’imposer face aux orchestres qui enflamment les populations des grandes capitales de l’Afrique. Le Bembeya Jazz de Guinée, le Tout-Puissant Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou et surtout l’OK Jazz de Franco à Kinshasa.

En 1974, l’orchestre emblématique du club est enfin constitué. La formation de 13 musiciens est animée par le chanteur et percussionniste Idrissa “Idy” Diop, l’organiste et guitariste Cheikh Tidiane Tall et le saxophoniste Thierno Koite. L’orchestre prend comme souvent à l’époque le nom du club : Le Sahel de Dakar.

Le Sahel de Dakar se construit rapidement une réputation grandissante avec un répertoire éclectique à base de rock, soul, rhythm and blues, tubes internationaux, américains et français, rumba congolaise, mais surtout de rythmes afro-cubains dans lesquels les musiciens excellent. Idrissa raconte encore avec enthousiasme les nuits incroyables du Sahel où l’orchestre partageait la scène avec les nombreux musiciens cubains et latino américains de passage, Johnny Pacheco, Celia Cruz, mais aussi avec James Brown, Manu Dibango, Franco,Tabou Combo, Michael Jackson, Johnny Hallyday et même Claude François ! Les nuits musicales de Dakar étaient exceptionnelles, Pacheco composera même un morceau intitulé : “Dakar Punto Final”.

L’orchestre du Sahel de Dakar apportera une authentique singularité à la musique de danse sénégalaise. Les musiciens de plus en plus audacieux et habités, s’écartent du modèle et mêlent rythmes traditionnels serere à base de tambour sabar et rythmes proprement cubains, rumba, guajira, son montuno… Tout ce que Dakar compte de musiciens passe fasciné au Sahel. Yousou N’Dour qui n’a que douze ans se faufile à l’intérieur quasiment tous les soirs. C’est au Sahel de Dakar que naît le mbalax sénégalais qui se rependra comme une traînée de poudre dans toute l’Afrique de l’Ouest et au-delà.

La vie de la formation du Sahel de Dakar sera hélas éphémère. Un seul disque de 6 titres sera produit en 1975 sur lequel figure “Bamba” le premier morceau de mbalax jamais enregistré.

Idrissa Diop part en France puis aux Etats-Unis, on le retrouvera régulièrement avec les plus grands, dont Carlos Santana. Cheikh Tidiane Tall demeure au Sénégal où il devient un compositeur et un arrangeur recherché par de nombreuses formations. Thierno Koite a rejoint le Super Etoile de Dakar et Youssou N’Dour, il joue également avec l’Orchestre Baobab.

Les années passent. Idrissa Diop revient enfin s’installer au Sénégal. Les trois hommes se retrouvent. Ils sont riches de leurs carrières respectives et le souvenir de l’époque du Sahel de Dakar est toujours aussi vivace. Le feu afro-cubain couve toujours. Idrissa Diop décide de reformer le Sahel et de faire revivre la légende. Le Sahel entre en studio pour des sessions mémorables. On retourne aux morceaux joués à l’époque, tous les titres font partie de leur répertoire des années 70. On retrouve la fougue, l’énergie et le gros son brut qui électrisait le public. La technique d’aujourd’hui restitue à la perfection la voix pleine, riche et légèrement voilée de Idrissa Diop. L’orgue chaloupé et la guitare si inventive de Cheikh TidianeTall font merveille tissant perpétuellement de nouveaux fils dansant entre le Sénégal et la Caraïbe. La section de cuivre emmenée par un Thierno Koité fiévreux enveloppe les éclats propres aux riffs de la salsa d’une rondeur plus africaine. On ne résiste pas aux timbales et à la clave obsédante.

Bienvenue à Dakar de Cuba ! Laissez-vous envoûter, “encantar”, par le puissant, le légendaire, l’éternel Sahel de Dakar. Mueve la cintura !

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3JOZMaSqFk

 

 

 

 

 

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