Samba Sene was born in Senegal but moved to Scotland seven years ago. He writes his own material and sings in French, English and his native Wolof. His style is strongly influenced by the jazzy grooves of Senegal and particularly by musicians like Baaba Maal (with whom he studied before leaving Senegal) and Salif Keita. He has a broad appeal, from world music fans to audiences that just want to dance to the beats.
He is equally at home on a small stage with just his voice and guitar or with a dance floor and a big fat 8-piece band with percussion and horns. Samba has played with or supported a wide range of artists including US musicians Mark Robinson and Nolan Witz (Queen’s Jubilee, London), Donnie Munro (at Edinburgh’s Corn Exchange), Wolfstone and Blues’n’Trouble; he has also sung regularly with Edinburgh ska band Bombskare and recorded with Cantara.
Recent performances include Knockengorroch Music Festival, Edinburgh Mela, Edinburgh Refugee Centre, the Bongo Club, the Jazz Bar and the World Peace and Justice Festival at the Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh in Feb 2007.
His band Diwan (meaning the whole world) has a tight core of 3 (or 4!) musicians which can expand to 8 when required!
The Jazz Bar becomes African party central for the hour that Senegalese singer-guitarist Samba Sene and his grooving band occupy the basement stage. Sporting colourful robes and supported by direct saxophone lines, kora, djembe and a tight, bouncy rhythm section, Sene makes serious points - about homelessness and equal rights - while delighting in his music's notable feel-good factor.
There's a strong visual dimension, too, as the band's diminutive dancer moves up front and at one point matches a frenetic djembe drum solo step for beat. Fans of Baaba Maal, with whom Sene studied in Senegal, and Salif Keita will find much common ground in Sene's ska-influenced beat and forthright French, English and native Wolof songs, delivered with persuasive personality.
Rob Adams, The Herald 10/8/07
...a lively Scots-African knees-up… Diwan's musicians worked up a good, muscular groove, with the bass rolling and tumbling below… Things were jumping by the end of the night, with the band's dancers and many of the audience leppin' about enthusiastically...
The Scotsman, Aug 2007
Senegal-born Samba Sene has been creating waves in Scotland with his kicking new band. His sweet voice and infectious guitar licks are guaranteed to get you dancing!
www.edinburghguide.com
Samba is also co-organiser of Ndaje: African Connections - a monthly club night mixing live music and DJs, showcasing music across genres and cultures, from an African perspective.
Some film of the audience at one of our gigs on the fantastic island of Easdale (a tiny place with a huge heart and a lotta soul!) Many thanks to all who came along and made it a truly magical occasion. The joint was fairly jumping! (And special thanks to Bogwood2 who put this on youtube).
