Mamadou at the Middle East

PerfomerMag, www.performermag.com
By Kerry Skemp - February 8, 2008

CAMBRIDGE— When Mamadou Diop took the stage, it was clear he was totally ready to rock. Decked out in a full camouflage-safari outfit, complete with a safari vest, and pith helmet, Diop was more than prepared to lead his audience on a journey through a musical jungle of Afro-Caribbean grooves backed up by traditional West African drums. And that's just what he did, rocking the Middle East with fast drumbeats and joyful guitar chords. Diop kept the evening upbeat but not sappy, advising audience members to "Stay your own self," and backing up his positive attitude with vibrant sounds.

A native of Senegal, Diop now lives in the Boston area but tours the world sharing Mamadou's wide-ranging but technically focused musical stylings. At the Middle East, the band revealed Caribbean, Spanish, and even Asian influences while maintaining a steady African beat. Band members played offset rhythms on a variety of drums, creating a richly textured mixture of rhythmic tones. Guitars and keyboard bass rounded out the band's infectiously nuanced sound. Diop and his band sang in Wolof (an African language prevalent in Senegal), English, French, and Spanish, making for a performance that was globally focused in lyrics as well as sounds.

In addition to a standard drum kit, capably manned by Mitch Cohen, Mamadou played a number of traditional African drums. Diouck handled the tama, or talking drum, a small drum that's held under the arm and made to "talk" or play various pitches by squeezing the strings of the drum. While he elicited frantic "talk" from the tama, Diouck also manned the sabar drum, a djembe-like drum native to Senegal. Mamadou also featured Michelle Cherie on djembes, Adam Zampino on keyboard bass, Pavel Jirka on lead guitar, and of course Mamadou Diop himself on electric guitar and various drums. Two guest drummers also played.

The band's enthusiasm was impressive. Diop's dance rhythms were so intense that his hat flew off his head a few times Surprisingly, this couldn't quite get the crowd going. In fact, the crowd was perhaps the least pleasant aspect of this performance. Mamadou is a remarkably energetic band that makes unique music with driving beats; it's too bad the Middle East crowd wasn't up to the challenge of moving with those rhythms.

Concert caps week of cultural activities

Worcester Telegram and Gazette, www.telegram.com
By Vito J. Leo Correspondent - Sunday, March 27, 2005

WOODSTOCK— Language students at Woodstock Academy punctuated a weeklong focus on foreign cultures with a Senegalese-style concert that certainly put them in the mood for a rocking weekend.

“I think it’s wonderful for the kids to go out of the school dancing,” said language instructor Merry Burke, who helped organize the school’s Culture Week for the 10th consecutive year.

Charmed by the rhythmic sounds coming from the six musicians on stage, more than 100 students snaked down to the front of the auditorium, clapping and dancing to the beat that might be described as a rocking mix of early Santana and the late Bob Marley.

“I liked the concert mostly because it was refreshing to listen to a style of music so different from what one hears on the radio these days and yet still entertaining and pleasant,” said junior Jessica Deary of Pomfret. “Culture Week is very informative and it reminds people that there is a whole, wide world outside of Woodstock; it helps people to be more open-minded about different cultures.”

Jessica knows from whence she speaks, having traveled to Senegal with a contingent from the academy.

“After visiting Senegal, I have been much more open-minded about different views on subjects such as polygamy, and I am much more thankful for the opportunities I have in this country such as education and freedom of speech,” she said. “The most different thing about Senegal was the Senegalese perspective on life. Everything was very laid back and people were incredibly friendly. Also, of course, many people were very poor and it was kind of a shock to see so much poverty.”

The West African nation may be financially poor but there appears to be a richness in the Senegalese way of life.

“Once I understood their mentality regarding the ranking of certain issues, such as women’s rights versus monetary issues, I was able to absorb their unique and diverse culture, which was equally as enjoyable as northeastern Connecticut, just supported by a different way of life,” said senior Aoife McCarthy of Pomfret, who also made the trip.

Students at the academy got a hint of that different way of life during the concert, which culminated a week that included “morning announcements in a different language each day and you had to guess the language,” says Jacob Duncan of Woodstock, and daily attire in the colors of the flags of designated nations.

“We all dressed up in different countries’ colors each day. It was awesome,” said freshman Caitlin Child of Woodstock.

And who doesn’t enjoy a concert?

“I loved it all, especially the singing,” said sophomore Amanda Paquette of Woodstock.

The singer was Senegal native Mamadou Diop, who now resides in the Salem, Mass. area.

“Love, peace, hope — you make it happen,” said Mr. Diop. “Always stay positive in your life; never give up.”

His message delivered, the Senegal native called for the students to “come down” for some fun.

Soon, more than 100 kids stood in front of the stage, clapping their hands over their heads, dancing to the enticing rhythm of Mr. Diop’s snare drum.

“This is pretty good, the drums and guitar are pretty cool,” said sophomore Clint Beausoleil. “It’s a lot better than I thought it was going to be.”

Which sums up many Woodstock Academy students’ reaction to the customs of other countries to which they were exposed during Culture Week.

Soul Connection

The Merrimack Current, townonline.com
By J. C. Lockwood - Friday, June 13, 2003

..."The Mamadou sound itself is hard to peg: The band performs original music that combines African rhythms and lyrics with western musical influences, making it world beat in the largest sense of the term. For example, Daouda Sane, a song about the connection between man and nature ("We are all a part of nature," Mamadou says, "but we sometimes lose the connection. Daouda Sané can bring us back to nature, or nature back to us.") is based on a traditional Senegalese chant with original music and lyrics added by Mamadou"...

..."But the studio albums are tame by comparison to the live sessions.... It's harder, edgier and more energetic, a complete change in the sonic direction of the band. Then Mamadou will, with a wave of the hand, stop all of the music except for the drumming, giving listeners a crash-bang lesson in the fundamentals of his music"...

Johnny D's

Somerville, MA - May 30, 2002

"The West African singer and composer who has made a big splash locally with his fine young band, playing music based on the dance traditions of his native Senegal. He's played percussion with innumerable groups (including Ibrahima Camara) before putting this current unit together, and it shows in his delightful stage presence and thorough mastery of the many rhythms of his homeland."

Drumming to a world beat

Gloucester Times - Weekender - January 27, 2000

The world beat band Mamadou Diop and the Jolole Band will play at Cameron's tomorrow evening.

This is the beginning of a schedule that will see the band performing at the Main Street restaurant approximately every six weeks.

Musicians from Senegal, West Africa, the Czech Republic and the local area combine West African rhythms and lyrics with powerful percussion jams to produce a unique, high-energy sound that sets feet and spirits to dancing.

Vocalist Diop, who plays rhythm guitar and hand drums, is accompanied on stage by master drummer Ibrahima Camara on djembe, sabar and tama (talking) hand drums, lead guitars Pavel Jirka, John Pfister on bass guitar and Ted Sillars on drums.

Camara, who plays traditional hand drums, came to America more than 25 years ago and was one of the first to introduce African music to this country. Over the years, he has performed with Stevie Wonder and saxophonist Pharaoh Sanders.

Jolole Band members first met at an artist's loft party in Salem when Mamadou asked to sit in with Sillars, Pfister and Pavel, who had been playing together for the past year. The band was formed and Mamadou asked Ibrahima to join them. They are now in the last stages of completing a CD that will feature 12 of their songs.

Jirka to America from Czechoslovakia in 1982. He fled the then oppressive communist regime by pretending to go to Yogoslavia on a trip. In his country, musicians had to get a permit to start a band and their music was heavily censored.

Diop was born in Senegal, West Africa. He is one of the most respected rhythm guitarists in his country and an accomplished sabar drummer. He has an extensive musical resume and has performed with the most celebrated musicians of Senegal.

Diop came to the United States in 1996 and joined Camara's world beat band, Safal. Camara welcomed Mamadou into his home and his music business. In 1998, Diop formed Mamadou Diop and the Jolole Band, performing original music that combines African rhythm and lyrics with rock and reggae influences.

Along with performing, Mamadou, a member of the Sonike tribe, teaches about African life and culture, as well as a weekly drum class for adults and children.

"In Africa, the expression of rhythm is used to make a connection with the soul. Rhythm is everything. It is used for all things in daily life: to communicate from village to village, to heal sickness and depression, to celebrate a marriage, as well as to mourn the dead. All of htese things that rhythm represents in Africa, I want to give to my music. It is my wish for this music to be in direct contact with the sould of the audience, and to lift up their spirit and to bring a sense of freedom to their minds," Diop said.