From the landlocked tropical savanna of Upper Volta, an ever-evolving cast of musicians brought the world’s rhythms to the streets of their native Bobo-Dioulasso. Combining Congolese rhumba, American R&B, French yé-yé, Cuban son, and regional Senufo and Mandingo traditions, Orchestre Volta Jazz was at the epicenter of the West African musical explosion of the ’60s and ’70s. Air Volta compiles nine original songs originally issued on the Disques France-Afrique and Sonafric labels, a peerless primer of a group that turned the brutality of colonialism into something beautiful and enduring.
“Boisterous and simmering in equal measure.”—Pitchfork
“Infectious and filled with joy.”—The New Yorker
Track List
- Volta Jazz Air Volta
- Volta Jazz Wêrê Wêrê Magne
- Volta Jazz Bi Kameleou
- Volta Jazz Mama Soukous
- Volta Jazz Mousso Koroba Tike
- Volta Jazz Djougou Toro
- Volta Jazz BB Peyrissac
- Volta Jazz Fitri Mawaly
- Volta Jazz Fintalabo
