LENI STERN

Africa

2007-11-04

Another artist goes to Africa and gets changed personally and musically. This time, it is jazz vocalist/guitarist Leni Stern. She spent two years fusing African and Western musical styles together and the result is something new -- yet with the strong flavor of African rhythms. Highlights include "Simbo" (#4), "Aman Iman" (#7), "Dakkan" (#11) and the stirring "Childsoldier" (#12). Another interesting cut is "Ousmane" (#8), on which the late Michael Brecker does a serious solo (he died soon after recording this; he's also on #6). Stern so impressed her African musical collaborators that they gave her a special name: "Moussa Guitar Foe." 11/07 MJVD W-Africa

Quick Links:

• More on the making of "Africa"
• Leni's homepage