Echoes of Timbuktu and Beyond in Congo Square, U.S.A.

"Kings, Queens and lesser royal-emeshed in a web of til and toil; They crossed a sea in great despair from Timbuktu to Congo Square." This collection of music and poetry by Bilal Abdurahman is an investigation of the roots of African-American music. Abdurahman’s awareness of the unmistakable influences of African musical traditions on jazz is shown on this album as he plays various African instruments including the balaphone [balafon] and the halam[xalam] in the music which accompanies his jazz poetry.

Track Listing

101	Images	Bilal Abdurahman	12:56
102	Interlude-Ugandan Harp. Bilal Harp	Bilal Abdurahman	01:15
103	Lament - Ugandan Harp. Bilal Voice and Harp	Bilal Abdurahman	01:46
104	The Transition -The Essence of Jazz	Bilal Abdurahman	01:57
105	The Blues is Born - Bilal (halam solo)	Bilal Abdurahman	02:03
106	Spirituals - Voice and Halam Accomp. Bilal	Bilal Abdurahman	02:46
107	Fiddler of Congo Square - Bilal (gogi)	Bilal Abdurahman	01:22
108	Gogi Solo. Bilal (gogi and voice)	Bilal Abdurahman	01:39
109	Spirits of Congo Square - Bilal	Bilal Abdurahman	01:05
110	Ancestral Ode - African Antelope Horn. Bilal	Bilal Abdurahman	00:46
201	Variation I African Balaphone and Shakers	Bilal Abdurahman	02:17
202	Variation II African Balaphone	Bilal Abdurahman	03:01
203	Variation III Clarinet and Balaphone	Bilal Abdurahman	04:04
204	Narration, Humming, African Balaphone. Tenor Saxophone. Bilal	Bilal Abdurahman	03:13
205	Nice Moan'in - Three Blues Narrations by Bilal	Bilal Abdurahman	03:43
206	Afriscat Rhapsody - Composed and Played by Bilal	Bilal Abdurahman	03:29
207	Fusion - Bilal	Bilal Abdurahman	04:24
208	Congo Square Procession - Bilal	Bilal Abdurahman	01:09
209	African Memoirs - Tone Poem. Bilal	Bilal Abdurahman	02:21