Steve Marshall

 

PRODUCTION


In 2003 I became involved in African music and brought Jelitara Futa, an eight-piece Mbalax band, to the UK from Senegal. The band played at festivals and we recorded an album 'Mami' in my studio. The album is only on sale in Africa, on cassette!

Later that year I produced a solo album with the band's singer Laye Sow, in a completely different style. 'Djamano' used only acoustic instruments, played by Laye, slide guitarist Richard Caswell, and myself.

"An addictive new find - it's rare to hear such a perfect combination of voice and guitar - Laye Sow is surely one of the best young Senegalese singers, and Richard Caswell frames each song with guitar arrangements that feel satisfyingly apt."
CHARLIE GILLETT

I have perfomed with Laye Sow at several festivals, including WOMAD's at Reading and the Eden Project; and we played a live Radio Four broadcast from Liverpool Cathedral.

Djamano is available from Orange World Records.
You can download part of a track from Djamano here:

'Mauritania' mp3



NOW


I enjoy recording all types of music - acoustic, electronic, bands - but I've really come to hate working with samplers and sequencers! I spent twenty years using them to make film music - often 12 hours a day, for months at a time.

What I've really come to enjoy, is working with other musicians and recording them well. To capture a perfect performance is really satisfying, but I'm quite happy to capture lots of little bits and edit them into what sounds like one spontaneous take.

Over the last couple of years I had a lot of satisfaction from working with and recording some very talented friends:- Singer Helen Ramsay, Drummer Dan Tozer, Bass Player Moose Harris, Guitarists Fal, Ramon de Juan and Nick Harper.

As usual I'm trying to do several things at once, and not having enough time for any of them. I'm trying though.
Surround sound is back on the agenda and I've started recording binaural sounds for another 'Bilocation' album.

There's a few examples of my work here on another page - none of them very recent, though:

MORE mp3's

 

Performing with Senegalese singer Laye Sow, whose album 'Djamano' was produced at Studio Eleven.

WOMAD Reading, 2004
From left: Nick Evans, Steve Marshall, Laye Sow, BJ Cole, Oumar Sow.
The gig was broadcast live on Charlie Gillett's radio show.

'Jami Lo Laye Laye', a track from 'Djamano', appears on an excellent compilation album - Sahara Blues of the Desert - now available from Union Square Records.

The double CD also contains tracks by Youssou N'Dour, Ali Farke Toure, Oumou Sangare, Baaba Maal and Robert Plant.

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