Group Saloum is America's hottest Afro-mbalax band. Founded by world-renowned griot percussionist Lamine Touré, Group Saloum fuses Senegalese mbalax with elements of jazz, funk, reggae, and Afrobeat. Group Saloum performs original Afro-mbalax music highlighted by the infectious rhythms of Touré's sabar drums, drawing upon the collective creativity of some of Boston and New York City's most talented musicians.
July 25, 2004 marked the first public performance of Lamine Toure and Group Saloum at the Central Square World's Fair in Cambridge, MA. The concert was a smashing success, drawing record crowds to the African Stage. Since then, Group Saloum's exciting live shows have captivated audiences throughout Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine, New York, Virginia (Floydfest), Illinois, and Montreal, earning them a nomination for "Best World Music Act" by the 2006 Boston Music Awards.
Lamine Touré is widely recognized as one of Senegal's leading percussionists. Born into a griot family of sabar drummers, Lamine Toure has been drumming since the age of four, a skill that he inherited from his ancestors. Since the early 1990s, Toure has been a key figure in the Senegalese music scene, performing with the successful mbalax band Nder et le Setsima Group throughout Africa, Europe, and North America. Toure's global experience inspired him to create a new style of Afro-mbalax music, incorporating the diverse musical influences he encountered during his travels. Upon settling in Boston in 2001, Toure began to search for musicians who would help realize his inspiration. The result was the creation of Group Saloum.
Lamine Toure and Group Saloum's self-titled recording hit stores nationwide in January 2006 and is already in its second printing. Recorded by ASCAP-winning producer Daniel Cantor of Notable Productions, and distributed by Nomadic Wax, Group Saloum's debut recording has won widespread critical acclaim, being featured on the Afropop Worldwide radio show, "Africa in America-2005."
In addition, Group Saloum has just released their first live CD, "Live at the Berklee Performance Center" (2007) from their acclaimed performance at the Berklee College of Music World Percussion Week festival.
Recent praise for Lamine Touré and Group Saloum:
"From Boston, a spectacular Afropop act specializing in, but not limited to Senegalese mbalax"
- Afropop Worldwide
"Lamine Toure and Group Saloum kick out a hard-hitting dance mix that spans the percussive fury of Senegalese mbalax and the joyful uplift of Congolese soukous"
- Banning Eyre, Boston Phoenix
"Whatever your pleasure, this album has got it. Group Saloum is a tight group made up of some of the best musicians in Boston. For a city boasting hundreds of music conservatory students and grads, this says quite a bit. Their polished act will definitely be thrilling live concert goers for years to come""
- Erich Ludwig, VP Artist Relations, Calabash Music
