Musa Mboob & XamXam
Sarah Lee talks to East Sussex-based Gambian percussionist Musa Mboob about his new project.
Gambian musician Musa Mboob is very used to musical collaboration. He currently plays in four very different bands which encompass jazz, English folk and African percussion. Based in Peacehaven in East Sussex, Musa is at present embarked on an exciting new musical project, XamXam, which takes seven accomplished musicians from very different musical backgrounds and produces music with clear African roots, but which also draws upon a rich range of musical traditions and styles.
The artists, including a fiddle player, tabla player, saxophonist, African guitarist and percussionists, are all accomplished musicians in their own field. The band bases its music on African rhythms as well as utilising a vast range of European and African styles to create a unique sound.
Exploring musical traditions has always fascinated Musa, who initially rose to prominence in Ifang Bondi, probably the most famous band to come out of the Gambia. Musa Mboob is known as one Gambia’s leading percussionists but he also gained a standing in the UK for his distinctive collaborations with the English folk tradition through his work with the band Boka Halat with Roger Watson.
Musa himself is very clear about from where his wide-ranging musical interests originate: “In Africa we compose our music based on rhythm whereas in the UK song-writing traditions are based on melody. I have always wanted to find a means of exploring these differences, using the talents of a range of top class musicians to find out what we have to learn from each other.”
Musa’s fascination with blending traditions was the inspiration for him to develop XamXam. In January 2007, seven professional musicians from the UK (who now make up the band XamXam) went to The Gambia to make new music in collaboration with local artists. In only two weeks the musicians recorded an album with four different bands and over 30 top class musicians from all over Gambia.
The resulting album is being launched on the 1st November 2007 by Musa Mboob and XamXam at the Komedia in Brighton.
Musa is keen to refute some of the criticisms sometimes attached to music which blends different musical tradition. He says: “I know that lot of people consider ‘fusion music’ to be weak and ‘watered down.’ I refute that completely. Anyone who comes along to our gig on the 1st November in Brighton should come prepared to dance their socks off and to hear something which will blow their mind!”
Musa Mboob and XamXam will be performing as part of the African Night Fever nights on Thursday, 1 November 2007, at Komedia Brighton , 44 Gardner Street, Brighton, BN1 1UN (box office: 01273 647100 / www.komedia.co.uk ). Doors open at 8pm. Admission is £8/£6(concs).