If you're Marie Daulne, the Zaire-born visionary behind Zap Mama, one of the most popular World Music ensembles on the planet, you abandon the safety of your Belgian home, and relocate
to the land of modern soul, the United States of America. Even better, you land in Philadelphia, in the Soulquarian hothouse of The Roots, and their extended community. Then, you do what comes naturally: bring your unique sensibilities to their
smooth groove, and let their down beats rub off on your higher life. Together, you push culture forward without ever forgetting where it began, and you call it Ancestry in Progress.
Zap Mama's fifth album is an experience in global soul. With help from neo-soul superstar Erykah Badu (on "Bandy Bandy"), hip-hop royalty Common and Talib Kweli (on "Yelling Away"), and other
members of the Roots' Philly massive, Ancestry in Progress further establishes Zap Mama as a main fuse in the continuing musical re-unification of the pan-African Diaspora.
But Progress isn't just Zap Mama's American move on Urban Music. Created mostly in the U.S. with Philly’s own, Anthony Tidd, tracks such as “Show Me the Way” and “Ca Varie Varie”
strut with the openhearted Afro-funk common to the clubs of racially diverse Western European capitals. Belgium born producer Phillippe Allaert, put his production magic on tracks such as "Sweet Melody" and "Yaku” which
incorporates the sounds of European ambience with a refreshing American vibe. Marie's vocals-only duet with Roots human beat-boxer Scratch on "Wadidyusay?” takes Zap Mama's a cappella futurism to a whole new level of musical
globalization.
You see, as Marie says, the Ancestry this album addresses is not specific to any one people or any one culture. "I'm talking about all the humans who made this world better, their philosophy and their
fight. I want my work to show respect for those people. Because I know that tomorrow we're going to be ancestors, and that is the kind of ancestor I want to represent."
http://www.zap-mama.com
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