Robert Pete Williams, one of the great African-American poets of the blues, discovered in a Louisiana prison farm at the end of the 1950’s, described his art as “air music”: “The sound of the atmosphere, the weather changes my style. The atmosphere, when the wind is blowing, carries music along,” he once explained.
Roland Tchakounté’s music—and this is no small feat—is endowed with the same atmospheric airiness that reaches the universal.
Born in Cameroon, but a world citizen at heart, Roland treads the bridge that links the blues to Africa on this new album. As was the case with Roland’s five previous sets, Nguémé & Smiling Blues makes use of two idioms to describe the strengths and weaknesses of the First Continent: bamiléké, his mother tongue, and the blue
notes that changed his destiny forever the day he heard a John Lee Hooker recording for the first time: “Hearing him was a true revelatory moment. At first, I thought he was an African artist who had Americanized his name.
The spontaneity, the apparent lack of structure, the fire and raw energy, the honesty I was hearing changed my whole perception of music, and I knew on the spot what direction I wanted to give to my music from then on.”
Nguémé, the Cameroonian pidgin synonym of hardship that gave its title to this set, is a sure sign of Roland’s concern for the suffering of the world: “I’ve always been affected by the downtrodden and the oppressed, he says. This new recording is an open letter to them, a way of giving them the strength to stand up and keep their heads up high.” In that respect, Roland remains faithful to the cathartic spirit of the blues. In keeping with the African-American blues tradition, his music deals with grief and sorrow as a way to transcend them.
The 13 original compositions that make up Nguémé don’t deal exclusively with sadness (“Melena,” “Misery”) and unrequited love (“Meden Mbibou,” “Oulen Nefa
Fide”). They also celebrate the moments of being that give their full meaning to our lives (“Nju Bwoh Man,” “Tchuite Blues,” “Noum Seou”), and generally praise
Africa in a way that’s rarely done by condescending Westerners. “Chubata Africa,” the opening track, is a perfect example of Roland’s proud outlook on a continent
that gave the world outstanding heroes such as Nelson Mandela, the leader of Ghana’s independence Kwame Nkrumah, trailblazer Thomas Sankara from Burkina, or famed anthropologist Cheikh Anta Diop whose groundbreaking work brought to light the African origins of Ancient Egypt.
Roland envisions Nguémé & Smiling Blues in an energetic and positive way. Strongly inspired by the flamboyant atmosphere of the electric Chicago blues
school relayed by Mike Ravassat’s scorching guitar and the inspired keyboard work of Damien Cornelis from the Malted Milk band, this album is yet another paean
to Tchakounté’s original touch.
A strong singer in the Taj Mahal tradition, Roland is one of a handful of creators who have successfully built a bridge between Africa
and Black America’s ultimate art form, the blues.
“Nju Bwoh Man,” its emotional atmosphere enhanced by its majestic choir, is a critical proof of this achievement.
Especially when you know that nju bwoh man, in bamiléké, means “Life is beautiful.”
Line-up: Roland TCHAKOUNTE - lead vocal, acoustic guitar Mike Ravassant - electric guitar, background vocals Damien Cornelis - keyboards. background vocals
About him
The blues as it should be played..delicate, intimate,
personal. Roland Tchakounte, a very personable blues
man from Cameroon, encompasses both the despair
and hope, promise in his soul-wrenching music.
The words are in his native language but the meaning
pervades his sounds. He artfully blends both bass and
sharp notes to make one feel theessence of his music.
A very fine musician who fell under the influence of
John Lee Hooker, Roland conveys his life experiences
through his music. Warm,melodious, foot-stomping,
he directly caresses his guitar strings in a masterful
variation of colors. The tone of his voice makes a
perfect marriage with his gripping guitar playing.
Surrounded by two other compelling musicians on
guitar and percussion, Roland played to an extremely
appreciative audience that made for a memorable
evening. If you are a blues fan, this man is an absolute
must because his guitar and voice interpretations
leave one feeling very moved, introspective yet happy.
I highly recommend this musician. Alans COHEN
If you thought you have listened to everything already, you haven’t listened to Roland Tchakounté, native
from Cameroon, Parisian by adoption and an
exceptional artist. He is one of the few who knows
how to perfectly merge his African roots with his Blues
inspirations and his very own singularity : an entire
repertoire in Bamiléké, his native dialect. Music is his
way to express how he feels for the African Continent’s
neglect and his desire to make the human race
a family, without race or color distinctions. Steph JUME
Taking giant steps along a path traveled before by Ali
Farka Touré, John Lee Hooker (USA), Youssou N’Dour,
Boubakar Traoré or Corey Harris, Roland Tchakounté is
one of those great modern African artists who
travel extensively throughout the world of music, with
extended stopovers in Bluesland. Acclaimed in Paris,
Memphis, Chicago (next to Buddy Guy), in Canada
and even in Japan, this Parisian by adoption sends the
Blues back to its origins. Nadi CROCES
