Jaojoby - Malagasy

America is finally catching up with Jaojoby, it seems. The foremost practitioners of the Malagasy style known as salegy, with its distinctive 6/8 tempo and danceable melodies, have shown wonderful chops under their singer-leader, but none of their excellent studio albums stand as real preparation for this live set. It's fierce, a straight-out attack from the speakers that never lags. After working so long together they function like a machine, with the bassist leading everything, while the voices ride the wave, and everything else emerges in small, stunning clusters, like the wild lead guitar that emerges like a war whoop periodically, fighting against the accordion, or the short horn interjections. Read More