Ivorian bassist Manou Gallo drops Afro Bass Fusion album

The 15-tracker takes listeners on a journey through Nigerian Afrobeat, Zairean rumba, Cameroonian makossa and African Salsa, juggling with polyrhythmic tempo like abodan, jazz fusion, funk and rap, among others.

Gallo pays tribute to musicians who inspired her, notably Fela Kuti, Manu Dibango, Franco Luambo, Aïcha Kone, Soro N’Gana and Marcelin Yacé, reworking classics like ‘Lady’ and ‘Soul Makossa’.

“Through this cover of Fela Kuti, I wanted to pay tribute to a monument of African music,” Gallo said. “‘Soul Makossa’ and I are 50 years old this year, and there is no coincidence. It’s your song Manu Dibango! It made a whole generation dream and I am proud to take it again today. Thank you, Papa Manu Dibango, for your smile, your kindness, your support, and your humour.”

Renowned American jazz bassist, composer, and arranger Christian McBride, appears on ‘Emotions’. On ‘Réveille-toi Africa (Wake Up Africa)’, an Afro-trap offering, Gallo said: “The lyrics made me realise that everything I used in my life, was made everywhere else than in Africa. We Africans are only consumers, not processors. A sad reality when you think about it because there is so much talent in Africa and too little is used.”

Based in Brussels, Gallo started off as a singer and dancer in Woya, one of the emblematic groups in Ivory Coast, touring across Africa. In 1997, on her arrival in Europe, she became the bassist of Congolese-Belgian Marie Daulne’s Zap Mama, and performed on the biggest European and American stages. Since 2003, she has led her own groups and participated in many other projects including Manou Gallo Women Band, Groove Orchestra, Acoustic Africa, and Music Machine. She has also worked with Bootsy Collins, Manu Dibango and Christian Mcbride, with whom she duets for her new album.