Dexter Story – Bahir LP

Description

Dexter Storyis an artistic spirit in the truest sense of the phrase. From his work as a multi-instrumentalist for acts like theSa-Ra Creative Partners, to his management role withSnoop Doggand his turn producingDaym Arocena‘s 2017 albumCubafonia, Story understands the business from every conceivable angle. Initially inspired by the music and cultures pervasive throughout the Horn of Africa, Story translated his experiences there into his previous albumWondem(SNDW 076CD/LP, 2015), followed closely by the single “Wejene Aola” featuring jazz luminaryKamasi Washington(SNDW 7022EP), both on Soundway Records. IfWondemwas a brief glance into Story’s new creative vision,Bahiris a pinpoint refinement of that purpose, the fine-tuning and expanding of the world he created on his Soundway debut. OnBahir, Story steps in front of those influences and melds his world into the one he fell in love with so strongly while in Africa. One way in which he’s done so is by incorporating musicians from both sides of this coin. LA luminaries are featured throughout, as are African contemporaries he encountered throughout his travels.Sudan Archivesgives a show-stealing vocal performance on “Gold”, while the Ethiopian producerEndeguena Muluadds impenetrable and psychedelic texture to the album’s title track. SoBahirfinds the polymath musician not stuck between two worlds, but as a member of both. We get Ethiopian jazz tonalities, Tuareg grooves, ekista dance rhythms, Afro-funk, Somalian soul, and forays into more contemporary jazz rhythms, too. Angelenos likeMiguel Atwood-FergusonandJosef Leimberggive the record its backbone, while African artists like the Ethiopian singerHamelmal Abategive Bahir its glimmer and shine. Also featuresKibrom Birhane,Jimetta Rose,Haile Supreme, andMarie Daulne. For fans of: Sudan Archives, Kamasi Washington,Laraaji, Carlos Nio,Mark de Clive-Lowe,Zap Mama, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Josef Leimberg.

Bahir by Dexter Story