Samba Sene was born in Senegal but moved to Scotland ten years ago. He writes his own material and sings in French, English and Wolof. His style is strongly influenced by international music from Jazz, Latino, Caribbean, Pop, Rock, Blues and Traditionnal music from Senegal. He is mainly influenced when writing by the like of Baaba Maal (with whom he studied before leaving Senegal), Youssou Ndour, Salif Keita, Omar Pene, Alpha Blondy, Lucky Dubbe, Xalam II, Souleymane Faye, Senemali, Camille Ndiaye, Missal Group, Manu Dibango, Paul Simon, Van Morrison, UB 40, Aswad.
He is a charismatic singer, with a broad appeal, from serious world music fans to audiences who 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. He has played with, or supported, a wide range of artists including Youssou N'Dour, Amadou & Mariam, Jamaican phenomenon Luciano, US musicians Mark Robinson and Nolan Witz (Queen's Jubilee, London), Donnie Munro (at Edinburgh's Corn Exchange), Wolfstone, Bombskare and Cantara.
Recent guest performances include singing with Baaba Maal's band at the Celtic Connections Club (Jan 2008), with American Hammond organ ace Tony Monaco (Fringe 08), sessions on MaryAnn Kennedy's Global Gathering and The Festival Café (both BBC Radio Scotland) Mervyn Stutter's Pick of the Fringe Show (2007 and 2008), European Day at the Scottish Parliament and a performance for Prince Charles at Dancebase.
His band Diwan (meaning the whole world) has a tight central core of Samba Sene (vox, gtr), Akin Fatumbi (bass gtr) and John Walsh (gtr, vox), with a revolving line-up of percussionists, brass players and special guests. Mbalax fusion mixed with Afrobeats and jazzy grooves; original songs with impassioned vocals, infectious guitar licks and irresistible dancebeats. Add some sassy horns and a pinch of ska for world party music with a Senegalese soul. Their first Demo CD – the 4-track Keman - was released in Aug 2005. They are curretnly working on their first album, coming out early 2010.
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
.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).
