Orchestra Baobab – Specialist in All Styles (2LPs, World Circuit)

Adored both at home in Senegal and across the world Baobab occupy a special place in the history of African music. Their unique and uplifting Afro-Latin hybrid owes everything to the cosmopolitan nature of the band who take influences from all around Senegal as well as Mali Nigeria Togo Guinea Guinea Bissau and beyond. Specialist was the first album by the full group since 1982 s legendary Pirates Choice a holy grail for African music fans. Recorded live at London s Livingston Studios in just ten days and produced by Nick Gold with Youssou N Dour Specialist In All Styles is a milestone in African music an inspired diverse and entirely contemporary take on Baobab s original Afro-Latin magic introducing new material and reinventing some of the old tunes that made them legends. Baobab are blessed with a sublime rhythm section and two of the most distinctive sounds in African music Barthelemy Attisso s extraordinary guitar and Issa Cissokho s atmospheric sax. But what also makes the band unique is it s five lead singers all with their own contrasting but complementary styles. The vocal team is expanded on Hommage a Tonton Ferrer by special guests Buena Vista Social Club star Ibrahim Ferrer and by Youssou N Dour himself.