Afrika Wassa
Vieux Diop, who began his musical career many years ago in the same Senegalese band asYoussou N'Dour, has lived in the U.S. since the early '80s, and the tone of his third album,Afrika Wassa, reflects the cultural melting pot that's now his home. Its heartbeat is ineffably African, as on the glorious vocal harmonies of "Manko," but, like America, it pulls from everywhere, drawing in not only Diop'skora, which is beautifully displayed on "Mom's Jam," but also the Celtic fiddle ofEileen Ivers. Some projects that are so all-inclusive can get lost, but there's a tight focus to Diop's vision, whether it's thehalamthat forms the basis of "Pourquoi" or the bouncy light groove of "Sin Lo-Lo." The writing, too, is always fresh and incisive, with the arrangements framing the engaging melodies rather than overwhelming them; all instrumental egos are subsumed in the song. This record might have been five years coming, but it's worth the wait.--Chris Nickson