THE CONGO SQUARE PROJECT FOUNDATION
ALBUM CD 1: Sacred Ground + ALBUM CD 2: Saints at Congo Square
The first album "SACRED GROUND" opens with an Orisha blessing ceremonial introduction, conducted by African Yoruba Priest-Master drummer Ayo Adeyemi (Babe Olatunji), plus a sensational piece performed by Brazilian great Airto Moreira (Miles Davis), followed by an array of musical pieces and grooves that include the dance of the Bamboula, Street Musicians, Secondliners, Dixieland, Bucket Players, THE CONGO SQUARE Drummers, etc… This side closes 300 years later, with The Revend Lois Dejean's Gospel Choir emotional rendition of "He knows how much we can bear". Showing us that the city's African descendants, regardless of the many hardships, have always remained together throughout their difficult history, thanks to their loyalty to the strong spiritual music brought from their ancestral land.
The second album "SAINTS AT CONGO SQUARE" reflects the projection and impact that this music has made to the rest of the globe. It starts with the magnificent "Shubaum (the Soul of India)" recorded in Calcutta by tabla virtuoso Tanmoy Bose (Ravi Shankar) & bengali superstar singer Idranil Sen (both recommended by Jim Keltner). This opera like concept album also takes the listener through a music journey that includes the superb AfroCuBop contribution that gives the album it's title, written and performed by latin jazz leader Francisco Mora Catlett, featuring Sun Ra's protege Marshall Allen on sax. A fitting tribute to Congo Square & Louis Armstrong, dedicated to the great Max Roach. NOTE: Yes, Francisco is part of the legendary trapsmith 'Big Sid' Catlett's family!
Recorded in LA, New Orleans, Boston, NYC, Woodstock, London, Bath, Barcelona, Paris, Berlin, Calcutta, Montevideo and Buenos Aires.
You can listen and buy this productions at
(click on the banner)