ELIPSIS

ELIPSIS

GroundUp Music

Michael League, keyboards/key bass/Ngoni/acoustic guitar/baritone fretless electric guitar; Pedrito Martinez, congas/vocals; Antonio Sanchez, drums/electronic programming.

These old friends have been making music together for some time. Before this recording, Michael League founded the groups “Snarky Puppy” and “Bokanté.”  Joined by two master drummers, this recent project is totally unique. Each of these gifted musicians, who make up the group “Elipsis,” are united to present a package of West African religious chants and rhythms that have survived the Middle Passage. These chants helped shape the jazz-influenced, contemporary, Cuban music of today.

This trio performed at the popular North Sea Jazz Festival in 2018, using Yoruba, Bantu and Calabar chants and songs that Pedrito Martinez learned as a young child. The percussionist, Pedrito, sings while playing congas and batas.

This historical music is performed by three talented culturally diverse musicians. Martinez is from Havana. Sanchez a native of Mexico City, and League is a transplant to California with Texas roots.  They all converged in New York City, bringing their Latin and Afro-Cuban messages together on this album, to unite and celebrate cultures and history. League incorporates the Ngoni instrument in this production.  It is a traditional West African lute, made from a hollow wooden or calabash body, that’s covered with animal skin. It has a long, skinny neck with several nylon strings attached.  It was played by African griots and hunters in West Africa, and is a precursor to the banjo.

This recording is plush with electronic effects, historic rhythms, and cultural richness. “Obbakoso” opens the production, hypnotizing me with their infectious drums. The vocals of Pedrito Martinez are warm and sweet. The addition of Michael League’s keyboard improvisations and melodic offerings brings a taste of contemporary jazz to the arrangement. There is even an injection of Rock music incorporated by the guitar of Michael League and his electric explorations.

This is followed by “Caminando” another original composition, with all three musicians as the composers.  This rhythm is very Afro-Cuban with the baritone fretless electric guitar adding deep bass roots to their production.

The chants sweep me into the music and captivate my spirit. You do not have to speak this language to feel its power and strength. These are songs, sung by captured Africans, brought on ships to the Americas.  These are protest songs, mixed with prayers. They capture that life-changing moment, along with the spirits of the men and women who survived that horrible historic journey.  This music reflects history and legacy, rhythmically projected, wrapped in electronic packaging, and tied with vocal chants like bright ribbons around the package.  “Elipsis” offers this as their gift to our world.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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