Don’t Give Up
Playing For Change, 2022
8/10
The international singer-songwriter and guitarist Jason Tamba offers a very powerful and soulful debut album here, which is often sung in his native language, Kikongo.
“Masele” starts the listen with warm acoustic guitar, as Tamba’s very poetic singing unfolds with much warmth that welcomes frisky drumming, and “Maasai” follows with fascinating vocal acrobatics that flow amid the pretty harmonies and hypnotic guitar playing.
Halfway through, the dreamy and intimate “Gethsemane” emits cozy pedal steel alongside sublime singing in the album’s best track, while “Nkomba Mi” lands closer to folk territory with its vivid storytelling and timeless strumming.
At the end, “Faria” is a vocally strong moment that’s full of charming bass lines and cultured percussion, and “Nda” exits with mesmerizing harmonica to complement the breezy melodies and soft singing.
Tamba is joined by Whynot Jansveld (The Wallflowers) on bass and mastering, Greg Leisz (John Mayer, Aaron Neville, Eric Clapton and more) on pedal steel guitar, the esteemed guitarist/producer Louis Mhlanga, Matt DeMerritt on saxophone, Roberto Luti on slide guitar, Grammy award-winning producer Mark Johnson on production, and Yasu Takeuchi. Additionally the PFC Band members Mermans Mosengo (vocal/ percussion/harmonica) and Robin Moxey (guitar) are also in attendance. Together, along with Tamba’s wordly approach, his message of unity and hope sure is appreciated across this very well thought out first LP.
Travels well with: Playing For Change Band- The Real Revolution; Clinton Fearon- Breaking News