Superb Fusion with a Wassulu Approach

Duende Libre – The Dance She Spoke (Duende Libre, 2020)

Seattle-area band Duende Libre plays fantastic contemporary jazz fusion with a world music edge. It is progressive jazz inspired by rhythms from Mali and Guinea, especially from the Wassulu border region.

The band’s sound is characterized by the sounds of the acoustic and electric piano, creative electric bass lines, a formidable rhythm section featuring a drum set and wide range of African and Brazilian percussion and sometimes vocals in West African languages.

The Dance She Spoke is a deeply satisfying album that showcases the talent of open minded jazz musicians who have embraced the rhythms and melodies of West Africa.

The lineup includes Frank Anderson on vocals, sangban, handclaps; Chava Mirel on vocals and handclaps; Alex Chadsey on piano, Fender Rhodes, Hohner Clavinet D6, Hammond B3 organ, vocals, handclaps; Farko Dosumov on 5-string electric bass, handclaps; Jeff “Bongo” Busch on drum set, berimbau, percussion, vocals, handclaps; Thione Diop on tama (talking drum) and jembe; and Jabrille “Jimmy James” Williams on electric guitar.

Buy the digital version of The Dance She Spoke from amazon or the CD from Bandcamp.

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