Organized in 1970 as a multi-ethnic, multi-national club band, Orchestra Baobab is a primarily Senegalese Afro-Cuban son, wolof and pachanga band.  It capitalized on the craze for Cuban music but more locally grew out of the Congolese soukous style.  This band was once considered the dominant African band of the 1970s, broke up in the 1980s and regrouped in 2001 after interest in their recordings grew in Europe.

Pulling phrases out of the seeming ether at times slow and somber at other times Claptonish in bending the strings to just the perfectly pitched cry of desolation, the guitar player in this band cobbles his way through sonorous passages reminiscent of Cuba son and holds together the sway and beat just right.  This music works and it works well.  For it’s stylings and groove, Aloha Promises Forever rates this album a 10 out of 10.

Orchestra Baobab’s Pirates Choice may be listened to here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5B2rjTpDUIg