DANCEABLES (Ref. SWP 071)

Le batteur zambien Michael Baird était un « afro-futuriste » bien avant que ce terme ne soit inventé ! En 1988, son style était qualifié de « Voodoo-Jazz », et cette compilation de morceaux enregistrés entre 1987 et 2022, d'une durée totale de plus de 108 minutes, le prouve sans l'ombre d'un doute. De la transe kasai à la danse fwanda, de l'élektro ambient au free jazz polymétrique, des flûtes pygmées aux cris maghrébins, un véritable corpus d'oeuvres accumulées au fil des ans, magnifiquement remasterisées.
Guests: David Tronzo (USA), Mark Lotz (D), Russell Konkie Halmeyer (CUR), Ousmane Seye (SEN), Kofi Ayivor (GHA), Jeroen van Vliet (NL), Nusch Baird (NL), Sophie De Vries (NL), Hans Hasebos (NL), Pino Basile (IT), Yvonne 'Niobe' Cornelius (D) , Michael Moore (USA), Vitold Rek (PL), Michel Massot (BE), Arnold 'Broer' van den Bogaart (NL).

MixedWorldMusic 2024 (NL): "Danceables delivers what it promises and more. The music breathes Africa, but without constantly labouring the point. Baird LIVES Africa. It gives his playing an extra dimension which can't easily be imitated. The dance fans amongst the readers will in particular be interested that it all swings like mad, but the more demanding listener will also be well satisfied. Indeed, the clever instrumentation ensures layering and abstraction in the music, something that can also attributed to the impressive list of guests."
JazzFlits 2024 (NL): "Baird, a Brit born in Zambia, approaches rhythm from very many sides. The album as a whole can be listened to as if you have a film in your head, with a large variety of moods, from distinctly merry to confusing and obscure. Recommended to anyone wanting to organise a weird party."
WrittenInMusic 2024 (NL): "With Danceables drummer/composer Michael Baird has released an exceptionally rhythmical double-album. Every track is rhythmically different, as is every region in Africa. Pan-African.....jazzy.....light and floating.....beautiful combination of rhythm and melody lines."