Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Sakesho: We Want You to Say...
Sakesho: We Want You to Say...
ByThe foursome has come together for its second release, We Want You to Say..., an exceptional collection of nine tracks. Although it's a studio recording, this album adopts the increasingly common practice of extended play that gives the songs a live feel.
Sakesho has its roots in the beguine, an intensely syncopated, polyrhythmic sound from the French Caribbean. Interestingly, all three Caribbean-born members have called Paris home at some point in their livestwo of them (Canonge and Alibo) still live there.
Appropriate to the beguine influence, tempo changes are common on this disc, particularly noted on the opening track, Canonge's "Bwa Moudong. Fanfant's first composition for the group is "Ewa Belia, a traditional rhythm in 3/4 time. The casual listener may not notice all the variations of this piece, with hi-hat, kick drum, and snare all doing something different. Alibo serves up a funk fest on the title song. "We Want You to Say features the bassist in a Pattitucci/Miller-esque groove while his bandmates inject a New Orleans flavor. The rest of the album delivers more of the same: straight jazz with a French Caribbean twist, highlighted by brilliant solos and tight rhythms.
It's not clear from the title what Sakesho wants listeners to say. But from this corner, it's a definite "Oh, yeah! We Want You to Say... is rated GF for grooves and funk.
Track Listing
Bwa Moudong, Ewa Belia, One More Touch, Dance Ska La, We Want You to Say, Baby Steps, Jou La Pli, Cha-cha Ou Inmin Mwen, Izo
Personnel
Andy Narell, steel pans; Mario Canonge, piano, Fender Rhodes, vocals; Jean Philippe Fanfant, drums, vocals; Michel Alibo, bass, vocals; Angelique Kidjo, vocals on
Album information
Title: We Want You to Say... | Year Released: 2005 | Record Label: Heads Up International
< Previous
Altered State
Next >
Crossed Paths