Sidiki Conde: Sidiki (2008)

Mark F. Turner

Senior Contributor since 2001

Considering himself a modern day 'Jazz Explorer' Mark continues to discover new and exciting music territories.

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Published: September 9, 2008

Sidiki Conde's music is as compelling as his life story. Born in Guinea West Africa, at the age of 14, he lost the use of his legs as the result of polio. Yet in spite of obstacles (physical, cultural, and others) he was not deterred from becoming an electrifying musician, dancer, and founder of Message de Espoir (The Message of Hope), an orchestra of artists with disabilities he recruited from city streets. This self-titled release is a testament to the musician's resilience, persistence, and uplifting presence.

The recording intrinsically carries the voice of Conde's experiences and his homeland, performed by a group of exquisite musicians who emphatically answer the call of dance and song. Pulsating drums of the doun doun and djembe, resonating strings of the guitar and kora, melodies of the flute and balafon and other instruments, together creating an atmosphere of celebration.

If the recording's music is the heartbeat, then the songs (lyrics sung in Guinean and translated to English in the liners) are its life-blood. "N'na" dedicated to Conde's mother who took care of him when he first became disabled, "Dalina," a traditional song to remind people to never forget their homeland, or "Ibrahimi Conde," a warm dedication to Conde's son (1994-2002) sung in Arabic and Malinke languages.

Stand out selections include "Damayele" and "Aboubacar Sidiki" where the player's instruments hypnotically intertwine with the call/response of the singers, or "Kourri"'s serenity with its easy guitar lines, threading Conde's heartfelt singing. This is music with global appeal, similar to the popular sounds of sister West African, Angelique Kidjo. There's much to enjoy here; a release that embodies Conde's spirit—one that is alive, dancing and singing.

Track Listing: N'na; Dalina; Agfrisses; Ibrahimi Conde; Kemoko Sano; Damayele (Big Mouth); Aboubacar Sidiki; Minimiza; Kourri; Dounougna; Djougou-magni.

Personnel: Sidiki Conde: vocals, doun doun drums; Moussa Sissoko: guitar; Yacouba Sissoko: kora; Rick DePofi: drums (1, 8), keyboards, flute, percussion, Horns, vocals; Pablo Sekou Dembele: djembe; Bouba Sakou: guitar (9); Robin Macatangy: guitar (1); Oz Noy: guitar (3); Fatu Keita: vocals (4); Gary Haase: (1, 3, 7, 8, 11); Conrad Korsch: electric bass, acoustic bass (5, 10); Shawn Phelton: drums (2, 3, 5, 7, 10); Danny Louis: trumpet, organ (5, 8); Roger Squitero: percussion (10, 11). Background vocals: Fatou Camara, Abdoulaye Diabate, Iba Bangoura, Yoyo Camara, Suzzy Roche, Terre Roche, Machan Taylor, Danny Louis. The Dalina Children (2): Alex Cellum, James Cellum, Elisa Hernandez, Emily Justich, Kerry Justich, Kevin Justich, Daniel Monroe, Masha Puchkoff, Oona Mae Roche, Kighla Carlson, Ean Carlson.

Record Label: Innova Recordings
Style: African Jazz