**** Africando

GOMBA SALSA

(Stern's Africa)

Africando began as a new spin on Afro-Cuban music. West Africa's top producer, Ibrahima Sylla, and top arranger, Boncana Maiga (who studied music in Cuba for nine years back in the 1960s), wanted to put together Senegal's great Latin vocalists with the best Latin players in New York. Africando I and II worked from Queens to Kinshasa, from Miami to Mali.

On Africando III, the dizzying spin continues. Veteran vocalist Pape Seck died last year, so in his place the group have recruited husky-throated Gnognos Pedro, the light of Benin's Latin-music scene. They also invited guest singers from other African countries and Haiti. Guinea's griot pop belter Sekouba "Bambino" Diabate interprets the African folk classic "Apolo" as salsa. The track uplifts body and spirit alike. And Zairean legend Tabu Ley Rochereau reprises one of his early Afro-Zairois hits, "Paquita." Crooning Senegalese stars Medoune Diallo and Nicolas Menheim shine as bright as ever, as does Ronnie Baro, the one New World singer in the group. But for all the experimentation in the vocal line-up, the music remains hard-hitting Cuban groove. From the chiming acoustic tres to the up-front percussion to the knockout horn and piano solos, every note is a treat.

-- Banning Eyre