12/22/14

Africa Express Announce Terry Riley's In C Mali Featuring Damon Albarn, Brian Eno, Nick Zinner
 Africa Express: "Africa Express Presents... Terry Riley's In C Mali (Five Minute Edit)" (via SoundCloud
It was 50 years ago this month when Terry Riley's iconic minimalist composition "In C"received its world premiere. To mark the anniversary, Africa Express—the organization that brings together musicians from multiple cultures, continents, and genres—will release an album featuring their 41-minute version of the piece. 
Africa Express Presents... Terry Riley's In C Mali is out digitally on November 24 and physically on January 26 via Transgressive. It was co-produced and mixed by Mouse on Mars' Andi Toma. That's a five-minute sample above.
In addition to several artists from Bamako, Mali, the album features contributions from Africa Express mainstays Damon Albarn, Brian Eno, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Nick Zinner. Find the full list of contributors below. 
Earlier this month, Africa Express presented a one-off performance of "In C" on the Bridge of the Turbine Gallery at Tate Modern. It was recorded for an interactive film, which will launch here on November 27. 
In a statement, Riley said of the new album:
"I am overwhelmed and delighted by this CD. I was not quite prepared for such an incredible journey, hearing the soul of Africa in joyous flight over those 53 patterns of ‘In C’. This ensemble feeds the piece with ancient threads of musical wisdom and humanity indicating to me that this work is a vessel ready to receive and be shaped by the spontaneous feelings and colours of the magician/musician. I could not ask for a greater gift for this daughter’s 50th birthday."
The collective's most recent album Africa Express Presents: Maison Des Jeunes was released late last year. It also featured Albarn, Eno, and Zinner.
Performers:
Adama Koita: Kamel N'goni
Alou Coulibaly: Calabash
Andi Toma: Additional Percussion, Kalimba
André de Ridder: Violin, Baritone-guitar, Kalimba
Badou Mbaye: Djembe, Percussion
Brian Eno, Bijou, Olugbenga: Vocals
Cheick Diallo: Flutes
Damon Albarn: Melodica
Defily Sako, Modibo Diawara: Kora
Guindo Sala: Imzad
Kalifa Koné, Mémé Koné: Balafon
Nick Zinner, Jeff Wootton: Guitar



Africa Express Presents... Terry Riley's In C Mali (5 Minute Edit)
tlalinne
Amazing!