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Bugge Wesseltoft: OK World
ByOn this largely acoustic session, with the exception of Indian-born/Britain-resident Shrikant Shriramwho, in addition to flute, contributes some fine fretless electric bassWesseltoft is joined by players from Spain (guitarist Josemi Carmona), India (percussionist Vivek Rajagopalan, who brings the ethnic mridangam and cangira to the date), Lebanon (percussionist Khaled Yassine, whose instruments of choice are darabouka, cahoum and bendir and who is also a member of Tunisian oudist Anouar Brahem's Astounding Eyes of Rita group) and Mozambique (percussionist/vocalist Amade Cossa, who contributes djembe, congas and bass drum). OK World's ten original compositions come from all six membersindividually, collectively and with the contributions of others including guest vocalists Georges Nehme (Libya) and Maryam Saleh (Egypt), who sing plaintively on the initially dark-hued "Moving Mountains," which is also a feature for Wesseltoft, who opens the song (and the album) alone, and Carmona, whose nylon-string guitar is as definitive a color and voice to OK World as Wesseltoft's intuitive pianism and Shriram's lithe yet punchy bass playing and feather-light flute work.
The tune then picks up steam, with Shriram and the percussionist's leaping into double time as Carmona's solo comes to an end, leading to an in tandem solo for Rajagopalan, Yassine and Cossa that contributes to making "Moving Mountains" an early indicator of the cross-cultural fusion of rhythm, harmony and linear lyricism to follow. That the album was recorded both in real time and through file sharing in studios as distanced as South Africa, Madrid, Lebanon, Mumbay, Kairo, Maputo and Norway is a remarkable accomplishment in itself, given the album's synchronous energy and musical confluence.
Nehme also appears on "Mawwal," his voice layered into a deep, solemn choir that ultimately leads to a more propulsive, trance-inducing, drone-based middle section where Shriram's lissome flute work is layered over Wesseltoft's carefully placed piano and Shriram's overdubbed bass, which combines with the three percussionists, all magically avoiding each others' toes here and throughout the recording to create an unshakable and absolutely irresistible groovejust one of many to be found across this 63-minute set.
An even larger cast of guests bring the buoyant optimism of Wesseltoft's "My World is OK" to lifean upbeat piece that revolves around the chanting of a simple but compelling line: "My world, my world, my world is OK. " When repeated enough, it actually starts to convince, just a little bit, despite all the real troubles taking place around the globe. It's a wonderful thought, indeedeven if the harsher realities of life as it is today sadly suggest otherwise. Still, if Wesseltoft's world is OK, it's because the music of OK World possesses a rare and wonderful ability to bring a disparate group of musicians from a multitude of cultures together for a recording that's as deep as the human condition and as rich as the emotions that drive us all. Perhaps, if people from so many parts of a troubled world can come together for an OK World, then there is hope for our world yet.
Track Listing
Moving Mountains; Josemi; Always Hopefuyl; Sharanagati; Mawwal; My World is OK; Mamullah; 3 Reasons; Ntwananu; 130 Steps.
Personnel
Bugge Wesseltoft
pianoBugge Wesseltoft: piano, vocal (6); Josemi Carmona: guitar; Shrikant Shriram: bass, flute; Vivek Rajagopalan: mridangam, cangira, vocal (6); Khaled Yassine: darabouka, cahoum, bendir; Amade Cossa: djembe, congas, bass drum, vocals; Maryam Saleh: vocal (1); Georges Nehme: vocal (1, 5); Louise: vocal (6); Alp: vocal (6); Ak: vocal (6); K.C.Loy: vocal (6); Madalin: vocal (6); Egil: vocal (6); Rik: vocal (6); Sissel: vocal (6); Alexandra's kids: vocal (6); Mathias: vocal (6); Maria: vocal (6).
Album information
Title: OK World | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: Jazzland Recordings