Africando is de unieke samenwerking van het beste wat New York te bieden heeft aan Latin-muzikanten en Afrikaanse vocalisten. Viva Africando (2013 release) is hun achtste CD sinds het debuut in 1993, (+zeven jaar na "Ketukuba") en klinkt weer inventief en hypnotiserend, met behoud van de Afrikaanse roots. Op ieder nummer een andere (merendendeels Afrikaanse) vocalist, én als laatste track nog een Spanish Harlem ode aan Africando, gezongen door Ray de la Paz. Classy big-band salsa dura, Afro-Latin style.

Led by the Africando masterminds, producer Ibrahima Sylla and arranger Boncana Maïga together with New York¹s top Latin musicians ­ led by pianist Oscar Hernandez. They reunite with the group¹s vocal stars, Medoune Diallo, Sékouba Bambino, Amadou Ballaké and Shoubou (from Haïti`s Tabou Combo), along with distinguished guest singers from diverse African and American countries, singing, all told, in 10 different languages.

Africando¹s first seven albums were recorded mostly or entirely in New York, for this eighth studio set the New Yorkers travelled to Paris. That wasn¹t the plan, but the war in Mali intervened, making it impossible for Africando¹s Malian arranger and music director, Boncana Maiga, to renew his US visa in time to make the album in New York. Fortunately, he was able to go to France, carrying tracks begun in Bamako (Mali) and Dakar (Senegal). In Paris he reconnected with Ibrahima Sylla, Africando¹s producer and instigator, and in November 2012 they were joined by six musicians from New York, led by pianist Oscar Hernandez, who has been an integral part of Africando since Gombo Salsa (1996).

Many familiar voices grace Viva Africando. The veteran Senegalese singer Medoune Diallo is a charter member of the band, now in its 21st year. Sékouba Bambino, Guinea¹s biggest star since his youth in Bembeya Jazz National, joined Africando in 1996 and remains a permanent member while continuing his very successful solo career. Roger Eugène, better known as Shoubou, a patriarch of the pre-eminent Haitian band, Tabou Combo, has been moonlighting with Africando for 17 years. A pioneer of modern music in Burkina Faso and also an Africando concert trouper, Amadou Ballaké is back for his fourth album with the band.

Jos Spinto, who has performed with Africando over the past decade, dedicates one of his songs in the new album to the late Gnonnas Pedro (1942-2004), an early pop star in Spinto¹s home country, Benin, who in the last eight years of his life won new fans worldwide in the Africando front line. Pascal Dieng of Super Cayor de Dakar returns to Africando for his second album, as does his fellow Senegalese singer, Bassirou Sarr of the group Dieuf-Dieul.

This album presents four distinguished singers making their first appearances with Africando. Rene Cabral has led Cape Verde Show for over three decades. Lokombe Nkalulu was in one of the hottest Congolese bands of the high Œ70s, les Grands Maquisards. James Gadiaga is a nobleman of Senegal¹s Royal Band de Thiès. Raymond Fernandes, born in Dakar to Cape Verdean parents, recorded his song during the Africando sessions for Mandali, but when he died before the album¹s release, his track was removed and saved for a better time ­ now.

Africando has always welcomed guests to the stage and to the studio ­ great singers especially but also instrumental soloists. Viva Africando comes to a rousing finale with a piece by an entire guest orchestra: the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, under the direction of Oscar Hernandez and featuring lead singer Ray de la Paz. The strongest champions of classic salsa today, the Spanish Harlem Orchestra pays tribute in "Africa Es" to its great ally in the cause, Africando.

1. Deni Sabali (4`13) Amadou Ballaké
2. Xalass Xalass (4`43) Bassirou Sarr
3. Doundari (4`14) Sékouba Bambino
4. Xam Sa Bop (4`59) James Gadiaga
5. Es Para Ti Gnonnas (4`08) Jos Spinto
6. En Vacances (5`11) Shoubou
7. Maria Mboka (4`10) Lokombe
8. Ma Won Mio (5`13) Jos Spinto
9. Yen Djiguengny (6`09) Pascal Dieng
10. Noche con Santana (7`55) Rene Cabral with Eddie Zervigon (flute)
11. Destino (5`24) Raymond Fernandes
12. Bouré Yayé Diama (5`11) Medoune Diallo
13. Africa Es `Tribute to Africando` (5`43) Ray De La Paz performed by the Spanish Harlem Orchestra