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	Transition, The-The essence of Jazz	Bilal Abdurahman	01:57
105	Blues is Born, The- 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 Abdurahman	01:39
109	Spirits of Congo Square--Bilal	Bilal Abdurahman	01:05
110	Ancestral Ode--African Antelope Horn	Bilal Abdurahman	00:46
201	Variation I African Balaphone & Shakers	Bilal Abdurahman	02:17
202	Variation II Balaphone	Bilal Abdurahman	03:01
203	Variation III Clarinet and Balaphone	Bilal Abdurahman	04:04
204	Narration, Humming, African Balaphone. Tenor Saxophone. Bila l	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