Each month we'll feature a musician
or group and have a crushin' solo
or phrase for you to hear....
what at Rhythm Traders
are known as....
"Sick Licks".

Beware...if you listen to them
all at once you might have someone
pick your jaw up off the floor.

If you have a "sick lick" recommendation,
please EMAIL IT to us!

Don't forget to check back each month....

  

  
WINTER 2008:

Cachao: Master Sessions, Volume 1


Well, many folks nowadays know only his son, Cachaito, who plays with Buena Vista Social Club and Afrocuban Allstars, but the big daddy is Cachao himself. You'll love this old-school danzon meets jazz. Here are 2 sick licks for you! The first one is a nice little quinto phrase in the middle of a carnival "Conga" rhythm. And in the second one, everybody is burn'in.
HEAR THIS SICK LICK!!

HEAR ANOTHER SICK LICK!!
Cachao: Master Sessions, Volume 1

In these sick licks, Richie Flores is the mad chemist behind the quinto, with help from Francisco Aguabella on congas. The other cool thing about this "conga" rhythm is how similar it is to Brazilian samba, and the Malinke rhythm, Djole....it's all the same spring.
CD: $ 15.99
  
OUR PREVIOUSLY FEATURED "SICK LICKS":
ARTIST & TITLE: SICK LICK: PRICE: ORDER:
Mamady Keita: Mandeng Djara:

Mamady Keita's newest release!! Recorded in his compound in Conakry, Guinea in 2007, just days before being evacuated on a US Embassy plane to Senegal due to the civil unrest in Guinea. It is 76 minutes and includes many of his own rhythms. Tracks include: Kondjana Fe, Deni Kinantan, Keiko, Manya O, Nyewe Kodo, Su, N'toman, Saran, Kedjula Kanin, Soundiata Fassa, and an updated Zaouli. I like this solo a lot for all the sounds he gets out of his drum. You can hear that signature "other" slap that he does.
HEAR THIS SICK LICK!! CD: $ 16.99
Africando: Live!!:

"Africa meets Latin America"...This Africando Live 2-CD set has all the super grooves. Featuring so many great players, we can't list them all. Actually, this is only about half of Miguel Gomez' solo in this 2001 Live recording of Africando. The group itself blends both Latin and African styles and sensibilities. In this solo, you can almost visualize Miguel standing on top of the globe, with one leg in Africa and the other in Puerto Rico, keeping ancestors on both sides smiling.
HEAR THIS
SICK LICK!!
2-CD SET: $ 17.99
Famoudou Konate: : Hamana Mandenkono

Here is a great solo phrase Famoudou plays for the rhythm Sobonen Kun II. It's an often misunderstood rhythm because it straddles the fence between a "straight" feel and a "swing" feel. On a side note, this is also a great disc because it has lyrics for all of the songs, written and translated. This phrase is classic Famoudou. Very Funky...and you hear the "swing" in his phrasing.
HEAR THIS SICK LICK!! CD: $ 17.99
Tony Martinez & The Cuban Power: Maferefun

It was hard to find only a single sick lick from this 13 minute track, but I think you'll like this section. It's got 3 of the best Cuban drummers in the business: Miguel "Anga" Diaz on Congas, Alberto Stivens on Timbales, and Julio Barretto on drumset...not to mention Gonzalo Rubalcaba on Piano. This CD has been on our top 10 list for a long time. One of the best Latin Jazz rhythm sections around.
HEAR THIS SICK LICK!! CD: $ 14.99
"Drum Gahu: An Introduction to African Rhythm" by David Locke
I picked this sick lick for a few reasons. First, Ghana usually gets the short shrift and this shows how hot and complex their music is. Secondly, unlike many other traditions, the master drummer here plays the lowest pitch drum, called the Gboba. Third, the book that this is from breaks it all down so you can play it, too!
This book/CD provides an in-depth look at the rhythm, Gahu, from the Ewe people of Ghana. It has lots of notation, and breaks down the rhythm for you. Check out this sick lick!
HEAR THIS SICK LICK!! CD/BK: $ 29.95
Cesar Pedroso:
"Pupy El Buenagente"

Former keyboardist for Van Van and arranger, Cesar Pedroso (known as "Pupy"), has come out with some hard hitting releases lately. "Pupy" has assembled some great drummers on this 2005 recording, including Roelvis "Bombon" Reyes, Jorge "El Toro" Castilla, and Jose Luis "Changuito" Quintana. Check out this sick lick!!
HEAR THIS SICK LICK!! CD: $ 16.99
Web special!
ONLY $12.50!
Youssou N'Dour:
"Special Fin D'Annee Plus"

All of Youssou's albums have moments like this where the drums take over...If you've ever seen Youssou live, you know people in the crowd often jump on stage and join the Sabar drum and dance. Check out Assane Thiam, M'baye Dieye Faye, and Youssou Camara on drums...
HEAR THIS SICK LICK!! CD: $ 16.99 Sorry, Temporarily Out of Print!
Master Drummers of the Dagbon:
"Master Drummers of Dagbon, Volume 2"

More great recordings by John Chernoff in Tamale, Ghana, of this culture's "talking-drum"...and no, that is not a buzz you hear in your speaker, it's the snare on the bottom of the Gon Gon drum. Sounds like chaos at first, but you quickly realize how locked in their parts are and how melodic these "talking drums" from Northern Ghana really are! The buzz you hear is from a single rawhide snare on the gon gon bass drum.
HEAR THIS SICK LICK!! CD: $ 15.99
Pancho Quinto:
"En El Solar La Cueva Del Humo"

Cool Bata grooves in a non-religious setting...Check out this great Rumba intro!
HEAR THIS SICK LICK!! CD: $ 15.99
Jimmy Branly:
"The New Method For Afro-Cuban Drumming"

Don't be fooled by his name...Jimmy Branly is 100% Cuban, and a "major-leaguer" when it comes to the new sound of Cuban Timba. This cut is just one audio example from his book on Afro-Cuban Drumming (for the Drumset) in which Jimmy demonstrates soloing around Clave. Notice that it's the more syncopated "Rumba" Clave that Timba is often built around. This lick is "sick" because of what it's not...it's not a performance. There's not even a full band behind him, and he probably did it in just one take. Check it out!
HEAR THIS SICK LICK!! BK/CD: $ 19.95
Michael Spiro:
"Drum Jam"

It's cooler than the name implies...no vocals and tons of groove-oriented Cuban-influenced rhythms. Great one to play along with or to sample. Here is Cubano, Miguel Bernal crushing on Quinto at the peak of a blistering Rumba-Columbia. This may be Cuban, but you can hear Africa running all through it.
HEAR THIS SICK LICK!! CD: $ 15.99
Adama Drame:
"San Bissaba Foli (30 Years of Djembe)"

This "lick" is pretty straight forward...but it's got a great groove and his quick hands and crazy style come through. The full version of this solo is 14 minutes long! Virtually the whole disc is like the sound clip...non-stop virtuosic solo improvisations.
HEAR THIS SICK LICK!! CD: $ 15.99
Web special!
ONLY $12.50!
Mamady Keita:
"Sila Laka"

It's been 15 years since his classic release, "Wassolon", and "Sila Laka" takes us back to the roots. In April 2004, Mamady went to Guinea and re-recorded all of those classic rhythms, this time with his Guinea-based group. Wonderful vocals, more breaks, and some of the most aggressive djembe playing ever recorded. Kassa, Djabara, Fankani, Kuku, Komodenu, Djole, Soli Lent, Soboninkun, Bandondjeli Flanan 2, Djagbe, Abondan, Tiriba. This CD is 73 minutes.
This is Mamady in 2004...playing a crazy lick to "Soli Lent".
HEAR THIS SICK LICK!! CD: $ 16.99
Irakere and Various Artists:
"Afrocubanismo, Live!"

Recorded live in Banff with Irakere and special guests Changuito, Miguel "Anga" Diaz, Los Munequitos, Ilu Ana and other top Cuban artists. This is a summit of master musicians if there ever was one. Check out this lick with one of my favorite young congueros (Anga), with one of my favorite pianists (Chucho), with one of my favorite Latin Jazz Bands (Irakere)...all live in Banff, Canada.
HEAR THIS SICK LICK!! CD: $ 15.99
Paquito, Sandoval & Hidalgo:
"Reunion"

Many great moments and up-tempo modern grooves on this disc. This was Paquito and Aruturo's first "reunion" after leaving Cuba and the super band, Irakere. Here's a great jam from a classic Latin Jazz album, featuring Giovanni Hidalgo, Pacquito D'Rivera and Arturo Sandoval. Although it's laced with these great moments, this lick stood out because in addition to being sick, it was funky and melodic.
HEAR THIS SICK LICK!! CD: $ 15.99
Fode Seydou Bangoura:
"Fakoly"

Lead soloist with Les Merveilles d'Afrique, he plays fast and clean. Soboninkun, Kadan, Yankade, Djaa, Djole, Takonani, Demosonikelen, konkoba,...ok, basically all the connoisseurs greatest hits. This boy's not all about chops though. He hired 4 balafon players and the sound on this disc is great. You'll be hearing more from him. This sick lick has it all. Lightening speed, great ensemble work, and rhythmic parts that turn you upside down. This young lead soloist from Guinea nails it.
HEAR THIS SICK LICK!! CD: $ 16.99
Cuba L.A.:
"Narada"

This is a band made up of some of the most respected Cuban studio cats. Orestes Vilato (Master Timbalero), Luis Conte (Congas/Percussion), and Carlos Puerto (Bass...and an original member of Irakere). This Timbale solo of Orestes Vilato shows what a crazy man he is!
HEAR THIS SICK LICK!! CD: $ 15.99
Thione Diop:
"Djembe and Dunun Rhythms of Senegal"

This is not just a CD, but a DVD! This sick lick is taken off of his new instructional DVD. It takes a long time to download for slower connections (it's about 9.7mb), but it's well worth it!
WATCH THIS SICK LICK!! DVD: $ 35.00
Billy Nankouma Konate: "Saboule Moyala N'Wolobalou Kobarika"

I loved this because I couldn't understand it...and that makes for a "sick lick".
HEAR THE SICK LICK!! CD: $ 18.99 Sorry, Out of Print!
Soungalo Coulibaly: "Laila Ilala"

This sick lick comes from a great interlude with Balaphone and Kora...watch how Soungalo launches into a pattern that to me sounds like a fan.
HEAR THE SICK LICK! CD: $ 15.99
Africando: "Live!"

This New York based band is made up of musicians from Senegal and the Spanish Caribbean...their group completes the musical circle. This album is a 2-CD set and one of our "Recommended" titles. This "sick lick" is a rippin' Conga solo.
HEAR THE SICK LICK! 2-CD
Set: $ 17.99
Klimax: "Giraldo Piloto & Friends"

This group from Cuba is headed up by Giraldo Piloto. The sick thing about this "lick" is that the kit drummer, timbale player, and conga drummer all do this in unison! A terrific album...the second sick lick from it!
HEAR THE SICK LICK! CD: $ 15.99
Mamady Keita: "Afo"

The original Zauli "sick lick"...The whole group plays this insane minute-long break.
HEAR THE SICK LICK! CD: $ 16.99
Klimax: "Giraldo Piloto & Friends"

This group from Cuba is headed up by Giraldo Piloto. This album features crazy drum breaks and blistering horns...listen to how Piloto bursts out of the sax solo like a "sick man".
HEAR THE SICK LICK! CD: $ 15.99
Famoudou Konate: "Guinea: Malinke Rhythms and Songs, Volume 2"

This particular crazy lick comes from Famoudou's apprentice and featured soloist, Nansedy Keita.
HEAR THE SICK LICK! CD: $ 15.99
Mamady Keita: "Wassolon"

This is one of several great phrases on this stellar album.
HEAR THE SICK LICK! CD: $ 16.99
Giovanni Hidalgo: "Hands of Rhythm" HEAR THE SICK LICK! CD: $ 16.99 Sorry, this CD is temp. out of print!
Moussa Traore: "Mali Foli"

Check out this bad boy from Mali.
HEAR THE SICK LICK! CD: $ 15.99 Sorry, Temporarily Unavailable
Mamady Keita: "Wassolon"

This is part of yet another great solo off of this stellar album.
HEAR THE SICK LICK! CD: $ 16.99
Famoudou Konate: "Rhythmen Der Malinke"

Another Famoudou gem, this is a classic 1991 recording, which should be on any serious djembe player's top 5 list. It has 71 minutes and 17 tracks, a 75 page booklet with great notated rhythms, and pictures,--too bad the text is only in German. It's a very rare recording that took us years to track down for you. Among other things are 3 Soli versions, Mendiani, Kassa, Soko, Sofa, and Dunungbe.
HEAR THE SICK LICK! CD: $ 19.99
Tony Martinez: "Maferefun"

This "Sick Lick" is a Julio Barreto solo on drumset. One of the best Latin Jazz rhythm sections around, with Gonzalo Rubalcaba (Piano), Julio Barreto (Drums), and Eduardo "Dudu" Penz (Bass).
HEAR THE SICK LICK! CD: $ 14.99
Mamady Keita: "Wassolon"

One more off of this stellar album!
HEAR THE SICK LICK! CD: $ 16.99
Doudou N'Diaye Rose: "Djabote"

If you like Sabar drumming, Doudou is the preeminent artist in Senegal---with 50 drummers and 80 singers! There was also a video filmed on Goree Island while Rose recorded this album for Real World records.
This CD is one you must have!
HEAR THE SICK LICK! CD: $ 15.99
Mamady Keita: "Wassolon"

This version of Soli is so hot that we have two "Sick Licks" from it!
HEAR THE SICK LICK! CD: $ 16.99
Mamady Keita: "Wassolon"

Here is another soli chop.
HEAR THE SICK LICK! CD: $ 16.99
Famoudou Konate: "Rhythmen Der Malinke"

Check out this wicked "echauffement".
HEAR THE SICK LICK! CD: $ 19.99
Mamady Keita: "Wassolon"

Shouldn't you just buy the album now? This is the 6th "Sick Lick" from this album!
HEAR THE SICK LICK! CD: $ 16.99
Famoudou Konate: "Guinea: Malinke Rhythms and Songs, Volume 2"

This Famoudou sick lick we suspect he picked up from the Americans....
HEAR THE SICK LICK! CD: $ 15.99
Mamady Keita: "Mogobalu...
2 CD Box Set)

Click on this one and tell me that your head is not spinning...
HEAR THE SICK LICK! CD: $ 25.00
Lemzo Diamono: "Marimbalax"

Hear how the vocalist (Alioune Mbay Nder) is able to vocalize the SAME part as the drummer is drumming in this "Sick Lick" from Senegal.
HEAR THE SICK LICK! CD: $ 15.99



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