Bai Kamara Jr & The Voodoo Sniffers – Traveling Medicine Man
13 tracks
Bai Kamara is an African bluesman who is working to internalize his life living in both Europe and Africa. He was educated by Protestant missionaries in Sierra Leone and travelled with them tending to the health needs of the people in his country. He recalls his grandfather who he admires as he was able to reconcile his Christian beliefs with African customs and beliefs. His mother was ambassador to Belgium. Kamara grew up in the United Kingdom and also lived in Brussels for two and a half decades.
Kamara’s last album Salone was released three years ago and I enjoyed that, too. This one shows his growth in his musical journey and features his touring band that he brought into the studio with him. Kamare handles the guitars and bass along with vocals. Tom Beardslee and Julien Tassin are also on electric guitar. Boris Tchango is on drums and percussion. Désiré Somé is also on bass.
“Shake It, Shake It, Shake It” opens the album, a jumping and fun cut with some sly innuendos. Kamara sings with conviction. “Surrounded” blends African musical sounds and features a cool groove. It’s a song of someone mired in the circle of friends that prevents others from coming in and the encircled one from getting out. Some pretty acoustic guitar work is featured in “Good, Good Man.” Kamara sings he’s a good man but he has a bad rep. He has to clear his name before it’s too late. Bai sings with feeling and passion as he picks out some great stuff.
Next is “If You Go” where Kamara tells us if his woman leaves his house will be nothing. It’s a sad song that amply emotes that feeling. “Miranda Blue” follows, with Kamara looking over his shoulder for a jealous suitor. It’s another cut with a great groove and just a nice flow to the music. The electric guitar here is nicely done. More sweet percussive work is featured in “Money Ain’t Everything.” Kamara bemoans the evils of money in life as he explains to his woman that he’s doing the best he can without it. There’s some pretty guitar picking here, too.
“Enemies” is a well done acoustic cut with layers of equally well done electric guitar. Kamara sings of no longer fearing his enemies as they are no longer awake, a dark theme and a moving cut. “Star Angel” is some deeper electric blues with a Delta feel to them. Well done! “Mister President” offers up more of the African/Caribbean styled rhythms as Kamara tells the story of a president who sold out his nation. The lyrics are not happy but they are countered with a lilting and jumping rhythm that perhaps offers hope.
“I Don’t Roll With Snakes” is a story about the type of people Kamara doesn’t want to associate with. A medium tempo and great groove make this one interesting. Up next is “I’m A Grown Man” where Kamara explains the benefits of his love interests to his woman. It’s bouncy and slick with some interpretive guitar. “It Ain’t Easy” is a slow and dark piece about the tough life in the sub-Sahara. Corruption abounds and he sings to get people to recognize the problems with their leaders. Haunting electric guitar is nice touch here. Kamara concludes with “If I Could Walk on Water.” This piece describes how many who left to escape his country via the sea never have been seen again. It’s a touching cut with nice guitar and percussive work.
I really enjoyed this album, Kamara sings and plays seemingly without effort. He sings of social issues in the land of his birth right and of relationships both gone bad and going strong. His songs are all originals and are interesting and evocative. The musicianship is fantastic. I Highly recommend this one for blues fans in search of new ways the blues are evolving– you won’t be disappointed.
