Bill Evans: African Akonting

[md2v4]

its amazing am impress

[Khalilullah]

The Kenny G of Akonting...Whitey sounds white on whatever instrument he plays.

[PeluMaad]

@Khalilullah ....or....possibly....you just aren't very familiar with West African string music?

[VoyagesinMusic]

Such a peaceful sound, takes me on a safari.

[saleall]

LOvely! you should also perhaps try Gnawa or Gimbri. its almo

st the same instrument at this one except its more base like.

[marredsun]

Seriously, how many awesome musicians named Bill Evans are there!? This makes 3 I know of!

[54markl]

He rocks!

[frmertd]

awesome!!!!!!

[Steadno]

very nice

[mandowalt]

Fantastic playing Mr. Evans. May I ask what the tuning is? Are all three strings the same gauge, but attached to the neck at different points?

[banjobubby]

wow that this is so cool and peaceful sounding nothing like my old 5 strings haha

[gazpugwash]

I really enjoy watching your videos. I think it is a great thing that you are showing people traditional music, regardless what others may think. Will you come over to the UK? Why not team up with the kruger brothers, I think your style fits in with theirs a little. Its a shame more people here in the UK don't appreciate good acoustic music. Keep on doing what you do Bill, there are people out there who enjoy it !

[Smomkan]

I know some standard songs of bluegrass repertoire such as Red-Haired Boy (i.e. Jolly Beggarman) have counterparts in Europe .

Because old-time string band music is a shared tradition between African-Americans and European-Americans, are there any tunes in the repertoire that have similar/identical counterparts in Africa?

[DavesRiffage]

I hadn't even heard of the akonting until I did some research on the history of the banjo not long ago. That's nice playing on a nice instrument :)

[crispinchicken]

thats awesome. you play it sort of like one would play clawhammer style banjo

[Daniel8Tolu]

Fucking awesome.

[SrNetsWalker]

Ya Cool as Deep Africa Soul !

[CannibalGore]

WOW man what a cool sound :D

[MaxwellsAttourney]

i'd buy one but i dont think they sell strings at guitar center.

[wackyruss]

They sell strings at Akonting Center.

;)

[alextw13jf]

Enchanting!!

[jedmarum]

beautiful!!

[hawaiiandobroblues]

Wow. Amazing.

[fartsinwind]

this is really good...........mellow

[Edthebanjo]

Bloody hell youre amazing! I saw you at sorefingers 2008, if you remember (i dont expect you will) a lady came round and asked you to sign a john dowling book to Ed. Thats me!

[olly1876]

Well done Bill! Very enterprising. Hope you will learn some more Jola songs and hope you get the chance to go to Senegal to hear the local players. And they'll be impressed by your playing too!

Nick Bamber

[ebotusbanjar]

Thank you for posting!

[fartsinwind]

amazing!

[BanjoPariah]

Good to know that the forerunner to the banjo is still relevant. I really must buy an Akonting. loved this performance. More w/the Akonting please.

[UlfJagfors]

Great Bill.I hope you learn a few more tunes

Try Ampa Yuoto about the same as Surwood Mountain

Ulf Jagfors

[Cullassisul]

Hauntingly beautiful! Well done!

[BeautifulGirlByDana]

Excellent videos