4 – Ginger Baker – African Force
African Force Live 1987
Ginger Baker will forever be best known for his influential drum work as part of British blues-rockers Cream. But as most serious admirers of the drummer know, Baker subsequently tackled countless other styles. Case in point, African Force. Joining Baker is a supporting cast of percussionists with a tribal drumming background, and expectedly, this style is reflected throughout the album. In fact, it sounds very comparable to David Byrne’s solo albums and also Paul Simon circa his Graceland period, especially on such tracks as „Brain Damage“ and „Sokoto,“ while the over-epic twelve-minute album-closing title track adds some funk bass to the mix. For those who think that all of Baker’s work sounds like Disraeli Gears, you’re in for quite a surprise with African Force. ~ Greg Prato
Live performance from Ginger Baker’s African Force, one of the many side projects that the former Cream drummer has put his time, energy and passion into. Long an aficionado of African music, this release captures Baker in concerts at The Jazzhaus in Cologne and The Burberg Studio in Iserlohn, Germany. Apart from the powerful Baker, the musicians include Ampofo, Ansou Mana Bangoura, J.C. Commodore on vocals and percussion and Francis Mensah, also on percussion. Neon.
African Force: Ginger Baker (drums); Ampofo, Ansou Mana Bangoura, J.C. Commodore (vocals, percussion); Francis Mensah (percussion).The Wire (10/01, p.68) – „…With this group Baker managed to combine the ominous intervals of heavy rock with the in your face impact of tribal drumming. The cover photo…showing a real Africa seldom glimpsed by the pop imaginary. So too the music…“
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>Still crazy after all these years<>>>