Personnel: Etienne Mbappe: lead and background vocals, basses, acoustic and electric guitars; Cate Petit: background vocals; Herve Gourdikian: flutes and saxophones; Jim Grandcamp: guitars; Roger Biwandi: drums and percussion; Gerard Cardocci: additional percussion; Christophe Cravero: keyboards; Andy Narrell: steel drums, vibraphone; Harouna Samake: kamala ngoni; Bobby Nguime: acoustic and electric guitars; Stephane Belmondo: trumpet, fugel horn; Valentine Duteil: cello; Daniel Zimmermann: trombone; Manu Dibango: soprano saxophone
2008 Release. Follow up to his debut CD "Misiya", "Su La Take" continues with his intense playing and his African roots singing in the Duala language of Cameroon. These fourteen tracks, all but three written by Mbappe, harbor many little gems, and ring with the spirit of West Africa. The instrumentation on Su La Take is an attractive mixture of steel drum, fugelhorn, kamala ngoni, trumpet, cello, guitars, violin and the ever-present, though understated percussion. Mbappe's arrangements mean that the music never sounds cluttered; all the instruments have plenty of elbow room and combine most effectively. The standout instrument however, is Etienne Mbappe's voice; rich and seductive—a storyteller's voice.
TRACK LISITNGS
1. Dangwa (LISTEN TO AUDIO)
2. Elimb'a Dikalo (LISTEN TO AUDIO)
3. Musango (LISTEN TO AUDIO)
4. Bonendale (LISTEN TO AUDIO)
5. Su La Take (LISTEN TO AUDIO)
6. Alane (LISTEN TO AUDIO)
7. San San Boy (LISTEN TO AUDIO)
8. Aye (Yen' Etomi) (LISTEN TO AUDIO)
9. Bolo Bwa Sawa
10. No Yo Nde
11. Mangledi
12. Misodi
13. Your House
14. Sibise (Mulema Mwam)