After touring Cameroon in 1971, N'Diaye was replaced by tenor saxophonist Issa Cissoko, who became leader of the band, and was joined by clarinettist Peter Udo.
With the saxophone of N'Diaye, this was the first core of the band. Togolese guitarist and arranger Barthélémy Attisso was a law student in Dakar, and a self-taught musician, whose arpeggiated runs became instantly recognizable. His Wolof language lyrics and his soaring, nasal voice defined the sound of Baobab's early hits. The move proved to be the spark needed to reunite the band's members, many of whom hadn't played music in years.The original frontmen of the band were the Casamance singers Balla Sidibé and Rudy Gomis, who came from the melting pot of Casamance musical styles, and most famously Laye M'Boup, who provided vocals in the Wolofgriot style. In 2001, Nick Gold, the producer behind the wildly popular rebirth of Buena Vista Social Club, decided to reissue Orchestra Baobab's classic Pirate's Choice album. While Orchestra Baobab continued to play, the group eventually disbanded in 1987 when the popularity of Afro-Cuban pop gave way to Mbalax, a new music style championed by N'Dour. Throughout the '70s, Orchestra Baobab drew a large following for its innovative marriage of Cuban jazz with local roots and African rhythms and languages.Ĭlub Baobab closed in 1979. Saxophonist Baro N'Diaye and bassist Sidathe Ly formed the group after luring several members away from the legendary Star Band, whose alumni included Youssou N'Dour. Orchestra Baobab got its start in 1970 as the house band for the newly opened Club Baobab in Dakar. This performance was recorded live from the Birchmere in Alexandria, Va. The ten-piece group is currently on tour in support of its latest album, Made in Dakar. Nearly 40 years after first forming in Dakar, Senegal, Orchestra Baobab remains one of the world's foremost purveyors of Afro-Cuban pop.
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