Bailophone Dance, one of my most favorite songs ever by Pharoah Sanders; from off the 1970 studio album, Thembi. It is the sixth and final of six tracks featured on this album. I first heard this song back in 2005 when I got this album on CD for my 22nd birthday on September 06th. This track is deeply drenched in purely traditional West African percussion, including the balafon (bailophone; traditional West African xylophone) and various drums. I love how the beginning rhythm in the first few seconds of this track starts off very jazzy and groovy before morphing into a strong African tribal rhythm powered by the beat of traditional drums. Not to mention the elephant-like trumpeting sound of Pharoahs tenor sax, bellowing cow horn, accented flute riffs and bird call effects that give this tune the feeling of being out in mother nature deep in the heart of our ancestors dear motherland of Africa. One of the instruments I heard on this track made a very primal sound that makes me think of a baboon or a gorilla screaming while charging through the jungle; but I couldnt make out what instrument it is. Listening to this track always puts me into a trance as it is calling up the spirits of all my West and Central African ancestors. The African drumming is so intense and immensely powerful, all my lifeforce and energy flow will do is dance to the rhythm of the beat inside my own flesh! Anyone who has never listened to this track before, or has and never listened to it through earphones or headphones, definitely should listen to this through earphones or headphones with the volume well turned up just to hear the thundering bass-playing parts in the African drums and how intense they sound. Brother Pharoah, you make me more than proud to be of African descent. Thank you for encouraging me and all others with Sub-Saharan African heritage around the world through your music and spiritual philosophy to explore and embrace our African roots to know who we are. Your Fan for Life and Beyond. Musician credits on this track: Pharoah Sanders (tenor saxophone, alto flute, fifes, cow horn, brass bells, maracas, bailophone); Lonnie Liston Smith (bailophone, ring cymbals, shouts); Cecil McBee (bird call effects); Roy Haynes (drums); Nathaniel Bettis (African percussion); Chief Bey (African percussion); Majid Shabazz (African percussion); and Anthony Wiles (African percussion). :D (y)
Posted on: Tue, 21 Oct 2014 18:38:51 +0000
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