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Bembeya Jazz
(Guinea)
Biography
Bembeya Jazz was (and still is) the most famous orchestra of Guinea.
It was founded in 1961 as Orchestre de Beyla, named after their home town in the
South-East part of Guinea, far from the capital.
After a first album in 1962, they became known as Bembeya Jazz National and singers Aboubacar Demba Camara and Salifou Kaba joined the band. They won the first price at the national arts festivals in 1964 and 1965, subsequently, Bembeya became a National Orchestra in 1966.
Blending Guinean mandingo musical traditions with Cuban and Congolese influences, the outstanding voice of Demba Camara, and the guitar hero Sekou "Bembeya" Diabaté were the ingredients that contributed to their fame. Bembeya toured throughout Africa, and they visited Cuba as well as Russia in the 1960s and 1970s. They were the first in Africa to make a musical « Régard sur le passé » about the struggle of leader Almamy Samory Touré against imminent colonial rule in Guinea.
The tragic death of the lead singer Demba Camara on April 5, 1973 created a shock both to the African public and to the other band members. For three years, Bembeya didn't perform at all.
Around 1976, Bembeya started to perform and record again, with singers Youssouf Bah, Mory Kouyaté and Sekouba Bambino Diabaté. Until the second half of the 1980s, Bembeya was again very successful with songs like « Telegramme » and « Wa Kele ». Towards the end of the 1980s, things became more and more difficult for the band, and several band members started solo careers. Although the band was never dissolved, they performed only occasionally in Guinea.
In 1998, they were invited in Guinea to perform again at the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Samory Touré's death. Four years later, they performed on the Musiques Métisses Festival and recorded a first new album after nearly 14 years.
Musicians on « Bembeya » (2002) album (Bembeya Jazz reformation):
Sekou "Bembeya" Diabaté solo guitar, arrangements
Mohamed Achken Kaba trumpet, chef d'orchestre
Koita Aboubacar tenor sax
Doré Clément alt sax
Condé Mory Mangala drums
Papa Kouyaté percussion
Kaba Salifou vocals
Youssouf Bah vocals (lead on tracks 4, 5, 7, 8)
Doumbouya Alseny vocals (lead on tracks 2, 3, 6)
Condé Mamady bass
Kouyaté Mamady rhythm guitar
Kova Bavogui rhythm guitar
After a first album in 1962, they became known as Bembeya Jazz National and singers Aboubacar Demba Camara and Salifou Kaba joined the band. They won the first price at the national arts festivals in 1964 and 1965, subsequently, Bembeya became a National Orchestra in 1966.
Blending Guinean mandingo musical traditions with Cuban and Congolese influences, the outstanding voice of Demba Camara, and the guitar hero Sekou "Bembeya" Diabaté were the ingredients that contributed to their fame. Bembeya toured throughout Africa, and they visited Cuba as well as Russia in the 1960s and 1970s. They were the first in Africa to make a musical « Régard sur le passé » about the struggle of leader Almamy Samory Touré against imminent colonial rule in Guinea.
The tragic death of the lead singer Demba Camara on April 5, 1973 created a shock both to the African public and to the other band members. For three years, Bembeya didn't perform at all.
Around 1976, Bembeya started to perform and record again, with singers Youssouf Bah, Mory Kouyaté and Sekouba Bambino Diabaté. Until the second half of the 1980s, Bembeya was again very successful with songs like « Telegramme » and « Wa Kele ». Towards the end of the 1980s, things became more and more difficult for the band, and several band members started solo careers. Although the band was never dissolved, they performed only occasionally in Guinea.
In 1998, they were invited in Guinea to perform again at the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Samory Touré's death. Four years later, they performed on the Musiques Métisses Festival and recorded a first new album after nearly 14 years.
Musicians on « Bembeya » (2002) album (Bembeya Jazz reformation):
Sekou "Bembeya" Diabaté solo guitar, arrangements
Mohamed Achken Kaba trumpet, chef d'orchestre
Koita Aboubacar tenor sax
Doré Clément alt sax
Condé Mory Mangala drums
Papa Kouyaté percussion
Kaba Salifou vocals
Youssouf Bah vocals (lead on tracks 4, 5, 7, 8)
Doumbouya Alseny vocals (lead on tracks 2, 3, 6)
Condé Mamady bass
Kouyaté Mamady rhythm guitar
Kova Bavogui rhythm guitar
Aboubacar Demba Camara
Formed: 1961 in Beyla, East Guinea
Style: modern Guinean music / mandingo music
Discography
| Title | Year | Label | Remarks |
| Belle époque vol.2 | 2011 | Syllart | 2CD compilation |
| Belle époque vol.1 | 2011 | Syllart | 2CD compilation |
| The Syliphone Years | 2007 | Stern's STCD3029-30 | 2 CD compilation, new edition |
| Classic Titles | 2006 | Cantos | Compilation |
| The Syliphone Years | 2004 | Stern's STCD3021-22 | 2 CD compilation |
| Bembeya | 2002 | Marabi Production 46802-2 | New recordings |
| Hommage à Demba Camara | 2000 | Syllart 38222-2 | CD reissue |
| Authenticité 73 - Parade africaine | 2000 | Syllart 38221-2 | CD reissue |
| Défi & Continuité | 2000 | Syllart 38217-2 | CD reissue |
| 10 Ans de succès | 1999 | Syllart 38207-2 | CD reissue |
| Regard sur le passé | 1999 | Syllart 38206-2 | CD reissue |
| Wa Kele | 1989 | Sonodisc ESP 8460 | |
| Sabu | 1987 | Sonodisc ESP 8442 | |
| Yekeke | 1986 | Sonodisc ESP 8431 | |
| Moussokoro | 1986 | Sonodisc ESP 8430 | |
| Télégramme | 1985 | Sonodisc ESP 8418 | |
| Spécial recueil-souvenir (Mémoire de Aboubacar Demba Camara) |
1977 | Syliphone SLP 65 | re-issue of SLP 44 with tracks Boiro & Doni Doni |
| Regard sur le passé: Le premier grand concert musical guinéen |
1977 | Syliphone SLP 64 | re-issue of SLP 10 |
| La Continuité | 1977 | Syliphone SLP 61 | |
| Le défi | 1976 | Syliphone SLP 59 | |
| Spécial recueil-souvenir (Mémoire de Aboubacar Demba Camara) |
1974 | Syliphone SLP 44 | with tracks Armée guinéenne & N'wato M'barale |
| Authenticité 73 - Parade africaine | 1973 | Syliphone SLP 39 | |
| Regard sur le passé: Le premier grand concert musical guinéen |
1972 | Syliphone SLP 34 | re-issue of SLP 10 |
| Live 10 ans de succès: Gala d'anniversaire en direct du Palais du Peuple |
1971 | Syliphone SLP 24 | |
| Regard sur le passé: Le premier grand concert musical guinéen |
1969 | Syliphone SLP 10 | |
| Sous la direction de Diaoune Hamidou | 1967 | Syliphone SLP 4 |
Sources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bembeya_Jazz
http://www.radioafrica.com.au/Discographies/Bembeya.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bembeya_Jazz
http://www.radioafrica.com.au/Discographies/Bembeya.html
Page added September 2001