I received the CD
today and it's great! Love the vocals and the "jazzy"
African
sound!
Really
unique and very "Djolé"!
I
loved the first CD so much and
really hoped that their second CD would not dissappoint, and I like it
just
as much as the first!
Keep'
em coming Djolé!
PS:
We
play your CD (s) in our massage therapy clinic and our patients love
them!
Thanks for the great listening...
Linda McAllister
Kalamalka Therapeutic Massage Centre
Coldstream, B.C., Canada.
Saltwater
Naomi
DeBruyn - Editor, Linear Reflections: www.linearreflections.com
Victoria,
BC, Canada, 5 / 2002 E.V
.
Djolé is
pronounced "jo-lay" and it is the word which the Mandinka
people of West Africa use to describe the joy of life.
This is something
that is captured in the music which this wonderfully explorative and
innovative group perform.
Djolé is comprised of Niel Golden, Joby Baker, Doug Galbraith, Scott
Sheerin, Sara Marreiros, and Tobin Stokes. Also joining them for this
disc are Michael Baron, Dean Samuel, Stephen Kent, Danuel Tate, and
Enrique Rivas.
Together they
perform some musical magic, wandering through new territory with their
"timeless sound interwoven with jazz influences."
Each track draws
forth something new and unique from the listener's perspective, as
well.
There are a number of diverse and unique instruments used on this
disc, far too many to name here, however you could pretty well travel
the world through their use.
Sara adds a poignant
haunting effect to a number of the tracks with her vocal twinings, and
gives greater depth to the already enriching pieces.
"Cadboro Bay" is a place which is very familiar to me. I
spent many summers there as I was growing up, as it was only a mile or
so from my home.
The tidal flow is
captured with the melody, and Sara's vocals carry you along like a
refreshing ocean breeze.
It is a track which
I found to be both relaxing and invigorating.
A light and jazzy refrain is found in "Sutukum," a
traditional piece. The soprano saxophone takes center stage, the notes
pouring forth from it dancing about and above the melody, with the
beat being kept by a Moroccan frame drum.
Add in a Fender
Rhodes and you have a rather incongruous blend, but it is quite
pleasing to both the ears and soul.
The final track on this disc is "The Idea of Earth," an
original Djolé composition. It incorporates a number of those world
wide instruments I mentioned earlier, from the tabla to the
didgeridoo, and is a rather playful piece incorporating all of the
unique sounds which come from the instruments.
What the mind thinks
should emerge as no more than a cacophony, is in reality a beautiful
piece.
Djolé is a group who's music excites and explores new avenues of
approach, blending the not so obvious with traditional arrangements.
They are to be
enjoyed, and listened to repeatedly.
