Bamboo Tamboo: Bongo and the Belair

Recorded in the hills of Trinidad, here is a fascinating juxtaposition of three music and music / dance practices of non-urban dwellers derived from African roots. Bamboo-Tamboo evolved out of the ban European colonizers imposed on drumming: dry, hollow bamboo poles were cut to varying lengths to produce different pitches when thumped against the ground. These bamboo instruments are used to accompany or speak about calinda (stick fighting). Belair (bélé) is a dance of older women accompanied by drums and shakers, often danced all night long; whereas bongo, also accompanied by drums as well as bamboo sticks, is danced exclusively by men at wakes in order to guide the spirit safely into the next world. All three musics share similar chanting styles and percussive styles.

Track Listing

101	Is a Burial Today Tamboo bamboo group, Cantaro, Trinidad	02:40
102	We Goin' Cut the Wood Tamboo bamboo group, Cantaro, Trinidad	01:52
103	Calinda (1) Tamboo bamboo group, Cantaro, Trinidad	03:23
104	Calinda (2) Bélé group, Trinidad	05:09
105	Grand Bélé Bélé group, Trinidad	04:21
106	Eloir éh Bélé group, Trinidad	04:45
201	Mama kilio, kilio Charles the Bongo King and drummers in village of Carenage	01:13
202	Gabitan Bombé Charles the Bongo King and drummers in village of Carenage	01:54
203	Douma Dance Charles the Bongo King and drummers in village of Carenage	02:38
204	Play Young Boy, Play Charles the Bongo King and drummers in village of Carenage	02:52
205	Nooka boné patates de lingo (We Are Digging Potatoes) Charles the Bongo King and drummers in village of Carenage	02:18
206	Give Me My Top Charles the Bongo King and drummers in village of Carenage	02:52
207	The Water Too Cold Charles the Bongo King and drummers in village of Carenage	02:26