Africando – Mandali

Released 2000
Stern’s Africa

Produced by Ibrahima Sylla


Available at Descarga, Amazon, etc.


1. Mandali 5:06 (Super Eagles)
2. Miye Na We 4:38 (Lokua Kanza)
3. Ntoman 5:01 (Salif Keita)
4. Hwomevonon 5:12 (Gnonnas Pedro, Boncana Maiga)
5. Mopao 4:32 (Koffi Olomide, Boncana Maiga)
6. Pepita 5:03 (Boncana Maiga)
7. Sey 5:17 (Thione Seck)
8. Betece 5:03 (Amadou Balake, Boncana Maiga)
9. Carpintero 4:48 (Ronnie Baro, Boncana Maiga)
10. Scandalo 5;01 (Lord, Pinard)
11. Son Fo 4:49 (Skouba Bambino, Boncana Maiga)
12. Doni Doni 8:19 (Bembeya Jazz)

Arrangements and musical direction by Boncana Maiga.

My impression is that Mandali is the most popular Africando album, which is saying something considering Africando is probably the most universally liked Salsa band these days around here. Certainly there are detractors (e.g. "I don't understand what they are singing about" or "I've heard them too much times" or such), but it works out as a fine compromise choice to be acceptable to pretty much all.

Three songs (Miye Na We, Ntoman, Betece) made salsanewyork.com list. Mandali and Sey also seem to get fair bit of play in my local scene.

Musicians:

Oscar Hernandez / Piano
Edwin Sanchez / Piano
Ruben Rodriguez / Bass
Ray Martinez / Bass
Pablo “El Chino” Nunez / Timbales
Papo Pepin / Conga
George Delgado / Conga
Bobby Allende / Bongos, Maracas, Guiro
Pete Gomez / Maracas, Guiro
Luis Rodriguez / Tres
Ozzie Melendez / Trombone
Luis Bonilla / Trombone
Raul Agraz / Trumpet
Ite Jerez / Trumpet
Irvain Years / Violin
Raimundo Penaforte / Violin
Lewis Kahn / Violin
Enrique Orengo / Cello
Mario Rivera / Soprano & Baritone Sax
Nelson Hernandez / Baritone Sax
Eddy Zervigon / Flute
Phillipe Guez / Keyboards (xylophone, marimba) & demo preparation
Adalberto Santiago, Luis Daniel, Hector Casanova, Ronnie Baro / Chorus
Medoune Diallo / Lead Vocals (1,12)
Gnonnas Pedro / Lead Vocals (4,12)
Ronnie Baro / Lead Vocals (9,12)
Sekouba ‘Bambino” / Lead Vocals (11,12)
Roger “ Shoubou” Eugene / Lead Vocals (10)
Amadou Balake / Lead Vocals (8,12)
Lokua Kanza / Lead Vocals (2)
Salif Keita / Lead Vocals (3)
Koffi Olomide / Lead Vocals (5)
Hector Casanova / Lead Vocals (6)
Thione Seck / Lead Vocals (7)
Adalberto Santiago / Co-Lead Vocals (12)