Wolof Dream Factory is a pretty unique meeting between the Wolof drumming tradition and the big band format.
In compositions by Geir Lysne, Jacob Buchanan, Jesper Riss and Claus Waidtløv this album attempts to bridge the power of the deep West-African heritage and the big band sound.
The album is a co-production between Aarhus Jazz Orchestra (mostly the horn-players) and Copenhagen Jazz Orchestra (mostly the rhythm section), and it features master musicians from Gambia, whom a group of Scandinavian musicians, visited in 2013, and studied with. After the visit to the village of Njawara, Gambia, the whole group did a concert series during the Image-festival at outdoor concerts in Copenhagen and Aalborg, Denmark
The story behind this album is special … and long… so bear with us for the somewhat extended background text.
The collaboration with the master drummers from Gambia goes back to Lars Møllers time as artistic director for Aarhus Jazz Orchestra (AJO) 2012-25, and was one of AJO’s contributions to Aarhus – European Cultural Capital 2017. A central theme was to develop global artistic projects exploring: What can we learn from other cultures?, How can we collaborate ? and What do we learn in the process?
Supported by special grant from the Danish Arts Council, the musicians on this album had the great fortune to collaborate with the great Norwegian musicians Jon Balke, Snorre Bjerck and Helge Norbakken, who brought a group of musicians and composers along with them to Gambian Village of Njawara, where the Norwegian Ecco organization had helped establish a unique musical learning center, that was based in the village historical musical tradition and both supported the musicians and the general community. For a week they sat and played the highly intricate polyrhythmic patterns – immersed in this rich musical tradition. Later AJO invited a group of 5 Gambian master musicians to Denmark, where they spend a couple of weeks rehearsing and giving concerts directed by the great Norwegian conductor Geir Lysne.
The music was recorded live, and time passed…
Now it’s finally released!
CREDITS
WOLOF DREAM FACTORY
Gambian Master Drummers
Aarhus Jazz Orchestra
Copenhagen Jazz Orchestra
Titles:
- Il Barbone (Stefano Bollani arr: Geir Lysne) Solos: 1: Michael Bladt (as) 2: Thor Madsen (g)
- Circling The Square (Jon Balke) Solos: 1: Jakob Buchanan 2: Christian Vuust (ts) 3: Claus Waidtløw (ts)
- Wolof Dream Factory (Jakob Buchanan) Solos: 1. Biran Saine (Talking Drum)
- Njawara Ducks (Jesper Riis) Solos: 1. Biran Saine (Talking Drum) 2. Nikolai Bøgelund (tb) 3. Mads Bæretzen (keys)
Line up:
Conductor: Geir Lysne
Kora: Jani Mamoudou Susso
Gambian Master Drummers:
Talking Drum: Biran Saine
Mbalax: Tapha Faye
Toungune: Biran Saine
Kung: Tapha Faye
Tarmbat: Liety Faye
Lamba: Mam Biran Saine
Kora: Jali Mamadou Susso
- Trumpet: Lars Vissing
- Trumpet: Jan Lynggaard Sørensen / Michael Mølhede
- Trumpet: Rasmus Bøgelund / Thomas Kærgaard
- Trumpet: Jakob Buchanan
- Trombone: Nikolai Bøgelund
- Trombone: Stefan Ringive
- Trombone: Niels Jacob Nørgaard
- Trombone: Henrik Resen
1. Alto saxophone: Michael Bladt
2. Alto saxophone: Johan Toftegaard Knudsen
1. Tenor saxophone: Christian Vuust
2. Tenor saxophone: Claus Waidtløw
Baryton saxophone: Finn Harald Henriksen
Piano: Mads Bærentzen
Guitar: Thor Madsen
Electric Bass: Kaspar Vadsholt
Drums: Jonas Johansen
Recorded live at Images Festival in Ålborg September 6 and Dronning Louises Bro, Copenhagen Denmark, September 7, 2013.
Recording engineer: Morten Büchert
Mixed and mastered by Thor Madsen at Mazza Mansion, April 2020
Cover art by Sigrún Gudbrandsdóttir / Sigrun.nu
Produced by Thor Madsen, Jonas Johansen and Lars Møller
Jonas Johansen plays Istanbul Agop Cymbals
This release is supported by: The Danish Arts Council
Special thanks to:
From: Habib Jagne, Helge Andreas Norbakken, Guro Gardsjord Heilmann, Anders Ørbæk, Images Festival & Mikkel Harder, Aarhus Festuge, RMC and DJM,
