Bonjour Africa Productions

CD of the MONTH

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Cape Verde is known for producing excellent musiciens.

Mariana Ramos has pushed the envelope after being deeply rooted in her tradition to explore new horizons.

Mornador will give you a flavor of her versatility and great talent.

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Africa has lost one great musician, the Congolese Bialu Madilu System, aka Ramsès II or also the Grand Ninja, who died Saturday in Kinshasa . (Link in French!)

Madilu was one of the musicians who worked with the late Franco Luambo Makiadi of TP OK Jazz. Madilu took over upon the death of Franco and has inspired many musicians with his uplifting rythms, in the style of the grand maestro Franco rumba music.

Oliver Mtukudzi

A humble, unassuming and talented Artist with a strong commitment to the youth.

Dobet Gnahoret

[http] Versatility and originality characterize this young singer from Cote D'Ivoire.

Her " striking new CD moves from delicate ballads to upbeat African grooves..."

			[http] Mayra Andrade Born in La Havana, Cuba, in 1985, the precocious talents of Mayra Andrade first reached a world stage in 2001. That’s when the singer won her country’s first gold medal at the Jeux de la Francophonie in Canada. Her crystalline and agile voice has since graced stages on the four continents. In 2006, Andrade released her first CD “Navega”,
			2004 KORA NOMINEE RENEE LAMIRA IS A SUPERB SHOOTING STAR FROM TANZANIA Her debut album "Ngoma Ya Kwetu" is an illustration of her enormous talent and hard work. [http]
			The music of Cape Verde—an archipelago 300 miles west of Dakar, Senegal—is a music of emigration. While the island nation’s best-known singer is Cesaria Evora, a young singer born and raised in Lisbon’s émigré community is presenting once-hidden Cape Verdean styles to American and European audiences. Her name is Lura and she releases **Di Korpu Ku Alma (Of Body and Soul) on Escondida Music on May 17, 2005. [http**]

			Jack De Johnette "It's a terrific record that's full of wonderful surprises. The concept for each song is unique and tasteful. Anyone would be more than pleased to add this to their record collection. I personally enjoyed every track. Jack and Suso have created a beautiful and special masterpiece." Jack De Johnette has collaborated with most major figures in jazz history. Some of the great talents he has worked with are John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman, Sonny Rollins, Sun Ra, Jackie McLean, Thelonious Monk, Bill Evans, Stan Getz, Keith Jarrett, Chet Baker, George Benson, Stanley Turrentine, Ron Carter, Lee Morgan, Charles Lloyd, Herbie Hancock, Dave Holland, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Abbey Lincoln, Betty Carter and Eddie Harris, who is responsible for convincing De Johnette to stick with drums because he heard De Johnette's natural talent. [html]
			Mamar Kassey The band Mamar Kassey was formed by Yacouba Moumouni in 1995. Yacouba's life as an artist starts when he left his village of pastoralists for Niamey after his father's death and a conflict with his elder brother. Aged 10, he walked about 222 km to Niger's capital. In 1979, he met the singer Absatou Danté, sister of the director of the Ballet National du Niger, Alhassane Danté. She taught him the musical traditions of his country. He learnt the Seyse, the flute of the Peul (Fulani), and after seven years of training, he was adopted in Absatou Danté's band, and later in the Ballet national. [htm]

			Mendes Brothers The music of Cape Verde and Angola has been transformed into an international phenomena by the Cape Verde-born and Brockton, MA-based Mendes Brothers João and Ramiro. In addition to three albums of their own, the Mendes Brothers have helped to promote the music of their homeland as owners of the MB record label. Artists that have released albums on the label include Mirri Lobo, Djosinha, Waldemar Bastos, Sãozinha, and Cesaria Evora. [html]


	\		Sara Tavares Sara Tavares (born 1978) is a Portuguese singer, composer and guitarist. She is of Portuguese and Cape Verdian descent. She composes world music. Tavares won the 1993/1994 final of the Endemol song contest Chuva de Estrelas, which helped her win the Portuguese Television Song Contest final in 1994, consequently earning a place the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest, with the song "Chamar a Música". [html]

			Vusi Mahlasela Vusi Mahlasela, known in South Africa as 'The Voice,' makes his North American debut with The Voice, a definitive collection handpicked by Vusi which spans his recordings over the last eleven years.