September 16, 2003
Text by Sean Barlow
Photos by Banning Eyre

Youssou N'Dour and his band Super Etoile warmed up Zankel Hall, the brand new underground performance space at Carnegie Hall this week with two sold-out performances. This was his first New York appearance since he cancelled the annual Grand African Ball last spring and his much-anticipated U.S. tour due to his objections to the war in Iraq. I went into the rescheduled performance regretting the lack of a dance ambience. But, there was something powerful about focusing on just the music in this intimate, great-sounding room. And of course, Youssou proved once again that he is one of the world's most brilliant singers.

Plus the ensemble of veteran members of the Super Etoile including Jimi Mbaye on guitar, Assane Thiame on tama talking drum, Boubacar Faye on percussion, and Habib Faye on bass, guitar and keyboards, had room to shine. Youssou left the horns behind in Dakar in this version of Super Etoile. And two women singers--one from Cassamance in the south of Senegal and one from Podor in the north--rounded out the vocal harmonies.

Youssou began the set with just four band members on stage--two guitarists, trap drummer and percussionist. He started singing very softly, only occasionally showing his high-flying vocal attack. Youssou built the energy and the sound of the show to great effect, eventually including all nine band members.

Jimi Mbaye's unique style of guitar-playing, much of it adapted from the Senegalese xalam, helps ground the band's sound. His solos frequently introduce songs. This night he took the opportunity to stretch out in jazz riffs that show his growth as a performer. His introductory passage on Youssou's hit song "Birima" was especially strong.

While there is no dancefloor in Zankel Hall, dozens of Senegalese in the audience lept up to dance in place, slicing the air in salute and crouching for the leg-splitting mbalax moves. They shouted encouragement and sang along, adding a lot to the joy of the evening.

Youssou sang three songs for his encore, including two of his trademark anthems of uplift, "Shaking the Tree" and "New Africa." He introduced "New Africa" by saying, "When you hear about Africa, it's usually three things--war, poverty, and AIDS. But we also have happiness and freedom." The audience roared back their agreement. Youssou and the Super Etoile brought that happiness to us in New York.

For concert information for the remaining part of Youssou's tour, including His performance Sunday Sept. 21 at Chicago's World Music Festival, go to:
http://www.imnworld.com/bin/events_lister.cgi?Artist=YOUSSOU+NDOUR
Contributed by: Sean Barlow and Banning Eyre