Botswana Guitar

[garrysmith]

If you don't want get up and dance when you hear this, just pull the lid closed, the rest of us will shovel the earth in....

[Michael Messer]

That's lovely!

try this one....


Shine On
Michael

[Gerry C]

Check out the vibrato on that (?) thumb-piano - about 25-30 seconds in! Whoo-hoo!

Dancingly,

Gerry C

[Michael Messer]

It is not a thumb piano (kalimba), it is a home-made lute. According to their press release it is an electric lute, but that doesn't sound plugged in to me.

Here is the blurb about the band:

Staff Benda Bilili are like nothing you have ever seen or heard before. A group of paraplegic street musicians who live in and around the grounds of the zoo in Kinshasa, Congo, they make music of astonishing power and beauty. The band's mesmerising rumba-rooted grooves, overlaid with vibrant vocals, remind you at times of Cuban nonchalance, at other times of the Godfather of Soul himself. You can hear echoes of old-school rhythm and blues, then reggae, then no-holds barred funk. Four senior singer/guitarists sitting on spectacularly customized tricycles, occasionally dancing on the floor of the stage, arms raised in joyful supplication, are the core of the band, backed by a younger, all-acoustic, rhythm section pounding out tight beats. Over the top of this are weird, infectious guitar-like solos performed by young Roger Landu, (an ex-street kid the band took under their wing), who plays a one-string electric lute he designed and built himself out of a tin can.

Shine On
Michael

[longtoothslim]

Both clips a a pure joy to listen to and watch !!!

[Deleted]

If any of you guys get the chance check out Bela Flecks 'Throw Down Your Heart'. Wonderful film!

www.throwdownyourheart.com

Cheers
Ben

[Deleted]

Cooler than a very cool thing indeed
I was just about to write that they also had excellent wacky bikes until I read the press release