Savannah Music Festival | March 22-April 7, 2012

Original air date: week of November 27, 2011

Tucked between Togo to the west and Nigeria on the east, the West African nation of Benin is one of the smallest on the continent, yet it has produced one of Africa's finest contemporary musicians. During the Spring of 2011, we premiered a special production featuring guitarist Lionel Loueke in a seven-piece ensemble under the direction of Robert Sadin. Working together, Sadin and Loueke crafted an extraordinary hour-long set built around original compositions and an array of stunning instrumentalists: Sadin conducted cellist Vincent Segal, violinist Mark Feldman, multi-reed and wind player Charles Pillow, alond with Walter Blanding on bass clarinet, percussionists Cyro Baptista and Thioko Diagne, while Loeke sang and played guitar.

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