Art and music have always been an integral part of my life. Born in Cameroun, I grew up with music and dancing all around me. Music is my calling, it is my way to give back to the people of the world. Even when I was a young man travelling by myself through Africa, living day to day and working hard to have a little food to eat and somewhere safe to sleep, I still challenged myself to learn more and improve my art. Writing, performing and recording music is a beautiful cycle of blessings for me. Art cultivates love and joy inside me and sharing my music with others is my best way to share that love with the world. It is a great gift to know that my music also brings joy and love to those who hear and experience it.
I wrote the songs on this album over the past four years. My composing grew from my focus on developing my ngoni-playing skills which has allowed me to do something that I’ve never done before; build my melodies on my ngoni without relying on a guitar or bass to lead or reinforce. I’ve often used my ngoni in the past as a rhythm instrument, but not as the lead melodic line. My new songs also have arrangements that feature the ngoni and kalimba together, and some songs that have four kalimba parts. Traditionally in Cameroon, there is usually 1-2 kalimbas in a song and my approach to use three is unique. I love working with multiple kalimbas to build a complex and layered sound that can really make people move.
Njacko Backo and Kalimbas at Work, includes:
Njacko Backo - kalimbas, ngonis, lead vocals, percussion
Anne Lederman - kalimba, fiddle, backing vocals
Walter Maclean - congas, cajon, percussion
Valery Woloshyn - kalimbas, ngongoma, backing vocals, percussion
Guest musicians:
Ken Whiteley - banjo, mandolin, vibraphone, lap steel guitar, backing vocals
Joseph Calendar - flute, saxophone
Withrow Public School Choir
:
Choir Director: Anne Massicotte
Music Teacher: Sarah Parker
Backing Vocals: Mimi Farache, Talia Kim, Rhiannon Dakota Quan, Ruby Sims
Produced by Ken Whiteley
Sound Engineer & Mixing: Nicolas (Nik) Tjelios
Recored in Canada at Casa Wroxton Studio
Mastered by: Andy Krehm, Silverbirch Productions
Music and songs by Njacko Backo
Arrangements by Njacko Backo & Ken Whiteley
Artistic direction and design by Wes Tyrell, www.WesTyrell.com
Photo by Rodrigo Castro
© 2019 Njacko Backo. All rights reserved. SOCAN
. Made in Canada.
I dedicate this album to children and families. This album has a clear message of universal love that will be enjoyed by people for generations to come. My writing was influenced by what is going on around the word politically and emotionally – places like Burma, Iraq, Syria, Africa, and also violence here at home in Toronto. My music addresses complex issues in a way that is easy to understand.
This project differs from my previous recording projects in that I partnered for the very first time with a Producer (Ken Whiteley). Ken was a guest musician on my previous album (“Ici Bas”), and we have collaborated on other projects he has produced. Ken does extraordinary work as an ambassador of Canadian folk music and children’s music. He has won countless awards for his work, including two prestigious Lifetime Achievement Awards from Folk Music Ontario. It is a dream come true for me to have the support of this iconic and humble musician and producer.
I would like to give thanks to Ontario Arts Council/Conseil des arts de l'Ontario for their financial support in producing this album.
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