Frank Bessem's Musiques d'Afrique: Bembeya Jazz

Frank Bessem's
Musiques d'Afrique:

Bembeya Jazz
(Guinée)

Musiques d'Afrique
Musiques de Guinée

Bembeya Jazz was the most famous orchestra of Guinea. Founded in 1961 by Aboubacar Demba Camara, Bembeya became a National Orchestra in 1966. Blending Guinean mandingo musical traditions with Cuban and Congolese influences, the outstanding voice of Demba Camara, and the guitar hero Sekou "Bembeya" Diabaté were the ingredients that contributed to their fame. Bembeya toured throughout Africa, and they visited Cuba as well as Russia in the 1960s and 1970s. They were the first in Africa to make a musical Régard sur le passé about the struggle of Almany Samory Touré against imminent colonial rule in Guinea.
The tragic death of singer, composer and chef d'orchestre Camara on April 5, 1973 created a shock both to the African public and to the other band members. For three years, Bembeya didn't perform at all.
Around 1976, Bembeya started to perform and record again, with singers Youssouf Bah, Mory Kouyaté and Sekouba Bambino Diabaté.
During the second half of the 1980s, Bembeya was again very successful with songs like Telegramme and Wa Kele.
Towards the end of the 1980s, things became more and more difficult for the band, and several band members started solo careers. Although the band was never dissolved, they performed only occasionally in Guinea.
In 1998, they were invited in Guinea to perform again at the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Samory Touré's death. Four years later, they performed on the Musiques Métisses Festival and recorded a first new album after nearly 14 years.

Formed: 1961 in Beyla, East Guinea.
Style: mandingue music.

Discography:

Title	Year	Label	Remarks
The Syliphone Years	2007	Stern's STCD3029-30	2 CD compilation, new edition
Classic Titles	2006	Cantos	Compilation
The Syliphone Years	2004	Stern's STCD3021-22	2 CD compilation
Bembeya	2002	Marabi Production 46802-2	New recordings
Hommage à Demba Camara	2000	Syllart 38222-2	CD reissue
Authenticité 73 - Parade africaine	2000	Syllart 38221-2	CD reissue
Défi & Continuité	2000	Syllart 38217-2	CD reissue
10 Ans de succès	1999	Syllart 38207-2	CD reissue
Regard sur le passé	1999	Syllart 38206-2	CD reissue
Wa Kele	1989	Sonodisc ESP 8460
Sabu	1987	Sonodisc ESP 8442
Yekeke	1986	Sonodisc ESP 8431
Moussokoro	1986	Sonodisc ESP 8430
Télégramme	1985	Sonodisc ESP 8418
Spécial recueil-souvenir (Mémoire de Aboubacar Demba Camara)	1977	Syliphone SLP 65	re-issue of SLP 44 with tracks Boiro & Doni Doni
Regard sur le passé: Le premier grand concert musical guinéen	1977	Syliphone SLP 64	re-issue of SLP 10
La Continuité	1977	Syliphone SLP 61
Le défi	1976	Syliphone SLP 59
Spécial recueil-souvenir (Mémoire de Aboubacar Demba Camara)	1974	Syliphone SLP 44	with tracks Armée guinéen & N'wato M'barale
Authenticité 73 - Parade africaine	1973	Syliphone SLP 39
Regard sur le passé: Le premier grand concert musical guinéen	1972	Syliphone SLP 34	re-issue of SLP 10
Live 10 ans de succès: Gala d'anniversaire en direct du Palais du Peuple	1971	Syliphone SLP 24
Regard sur le passé: Le premier grand concert musical guinéen	1969	Syliphone SLP 10
Sous la direction de Diaoune Hamidou	1967	Syliphone SLP 4