Super Biton De Ségou

Mieruba is thrilled to present this new collaboration with Deviation Records: the 2nd Volume of Super Biton of Segou’s Afro.Jazz.Folk collection. The collection includes early and rare 70s recordings showcasing the diverse musical roots of 1970s Mali, combining Afro-Latin percussion, Mandingo songs, jazzy brass, and funky guitar.

Ségou is a crossroads between the Bambara, Peul, Mandingo and Somono cultures, and Super Biton has drawn on all these traditions to create a repertoire extremely rich in rhythms and lyrics. The modern, sophisticated compositions incorporate electric instruments and brass, and open up to Cuban music, with congas and bongos completing the orchestra's sound. Super Biton triumphed at the Biennales Nationales du Mali in 1972, 1974 and 1976, thanks to its silky brass, subtle guitars, roaring bass, lyrical vocals and resolutely modern sound. Since then, it has become Mali's best-known and most sought-after orchestra outside the country's borders.

Afro.Jazz.Folk Collection presents previously unreleased tracks by the legendary orchestra that have been confided to Mieruba by members of the orchestra to bring them back into the limelight.

The album contains eleven tracks, the first of which, 'Nantan', serves as an introduction. It is followed by the stunning song 'Bouguel' which starts right in with one of Super Biton’s signature guitar riffs, urgent vocals and tart brass. Underneath and supporting these elements are the beautifully complex percussive mix of trap drums, shakers and hand drums including an impressive drum solo about mid-song. The horns and vocals reemerge and are followed by a more impressive guitar solo. The next song, 'Atou N Diaye', introduces a keyboard that carries the rhythm while the scorching guitar plays rippling notes on top.

And so it goes throughout the album: one rare gem of a song after another. These older recordings intentionally retain the original sound of the tapes whether recorded in live or studio settings. Super Biton’s version of the classic song 'Farafina' presented here is a standout in the collection as it is the one song that is a studio recording. Another outstanding moment is the band’s previously unheard version of 'Diarabi Muso', another classic interpreted here with the unique musical artistry that only Super Biton de Ségou can provide.

The Collection is a vibrant testimony to the musical effervescence that reigned in Ségou and in Mali in these years of overflowing cultural creativity and a tribute to all its talented musicians who crossed the road to Super Biton: Amadou Bah: conductor and trumpet player; Mamadou Sissoko dit Mama: lead guitar; Mamadou Doumbia dit Percey: vocals and percussion; Gagny Diwara: trumpet; Mamadou Diarra dit Bilk: alto and soprano saxophone; Dramane Diarra: drum; Modibo Diarra dit Bebel: synthesizer; Mamadou Coulibaly dit Coulou; Zoumana Diarra: bass; Aboubacar Kissa dit Cubain: vocals; Mamadou Guindo: medium guitar; Toussain Siane: vocals and percussion; Moussa Ouattara: tumbas; Karamoko Niang: lyricist and singer; Salim Haidara; Yacouba Soubeiga dit Jimmy; Papa Gaoussou Diarra; Ibrahim Diombana; Sadio Traore.