Album Notes

Leni Stern reaches a career high with her soaring new full-length CD, ‘Sa Belle Belle Ba’ – by showcasing multiple guest performers, highlighting indigenous instruments from Africa and elsewhere, and allowing the collaborative process to shine, Stern has delivered a complex, hard- hitting, funky, Global rocker.
Stern lets loose on the new CD, singing in Wollof, Arabic and Bambara, and the surrounding ensemble performances create a palpable energy, especially via raps, layered vocals, wild funk sounds, and guest musicians including Haruna Samake, Ami Sacko and Zoumana Tareta. In addition, Stern has infused the CD with strings, combining kora, oud and percussion with a string ensemble, an achievement she’s particularly proud of. ‘Sa Belle Belle Ba’ was co-produced by Stern and Andy Tommasi, and will be released July 15th.
Leni Stern is a Global Music artist and electric guitarist whose stature has grown in the wake of her acclaimed CDs ‘Alu Maye’, 'Africa' and ‘Spirit In The Water’ – all were recorded in Mali, using local musicians, instruments and equipment, and integrating African and Western music forms with distinction. Critics embraced 'Africa' as "a
significant new chapter in a career marked by bold changes,” and ALLMUSIC described it as "one of the finest CDs of the...year, in any genre." ‘Spirit In the Water’ was praised as “a glorious triumph,” and, in its wake, critics remarked that Stern’s eclectic career had emerged as “one of modern music’s great adventures.” Recorded on analog tape, the EP’s warm, soulful sound was evocative of jazz and rock albums of the 1960’s. ‘Sa Belle Belle Ba’ is the full-length CD that evolved from the ‘Spirit’ sessions.

Jack Goodstein gave "Sa Belle Belle Ba" a great & thoughtful review over at Blogcritics:
http://blogcritics.org/music/article/music-review-leni-stern-sa-belle/

Leni Stern: guitar, n'goni, vocals
Mamadou Ba: bass
Harouna Samake - camele n'goni
Mamadou Kone "Prince" - calabash, tama
Ami Sacko - vocals
Mah Soumano - vocals
Harvey Wihrt - drums
Makane Koyate - jembe, calabash
Yacouba Sissoko - kora
Brahim Fribgane - oud, cajon, tarija
Kofu - nigerian talking drum
Toumani Diabate - kora
Zoumana Tareta - soukou, vocals
Bassekou Koyate - n'goni
Bouba Sacko - n'goni
Jazz - rap vocals
Souleyman Doumbia - percussion
Lamin Tounkara - doun doun

recorded at bedford studios by andy tommasi produced by leni stern and andy tommasi