Music
Press
“...This collection of warm, percussive and poetic songs has deep Senegalese roots but has modern dance hall flavor in some tracks like "Take It Easy." There's a bit of ska too, and a co-worker heard a track that reminded him of The Slits from the late '70s.
Don't expect a Latin sounding release: it isn't. We basically took it in because the label Ahi-Na-Ma is primarly Latin, so we ordered some without knowing what it was. We like it, so there you go.”
Highly Recommended. (BP, 2007-10-01) - descarga.com
"Claude Gomis is the son of Orchestra Baobab's Rudy Gomis, so for the kid to have musical talent is pretty much a given. He's a skilled percussionist who knows his way around African and other global rhythms and has one of those elastic singing voices that so many West Africans seem to possess. The songs on his Seeds of Baobab CD are mainly snappy Afro-fusion, with additions like the blues accents on "Yelele," the subdued techno-thump of "I Wanna Do" and the funky bass that propels "Nadaka Bon" showing that he's interested in exploration. Not surprising, since he was born in Senegal, has lived in New York City since 1995 and is a successful painter and sculptor as well as a musician. Gomis' sense of the eclectic becomes increasingly clear as the album moves along and strains of Afrobeat, hip hop, spoken word and griot-like interludes join the dance. In fact, this disc may strike some as too varied, but as the work of an emerging artist who may still be deciding on his strongest suit(s), it's very good for the most part. The percussion is excellent throughout, recurring vocals in English are inviting, the depth of Gomis' African/diasporic roots remains evident and once you're swaying to the concluding instrumental "Brasaville," you realize that the seeds Gomis has planted are bearing fruit of a most satisfying sort." - Tom Orr - RootsWorld
Discography
Guest vocals on"American Exceptionalism" and the title track "Trance for Nation" from the just released (January 09) album by The Superpowers.
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"SEEDS OF BAOBAB" was released on 10/23/07 and is available on amazon.com
"Terra Dance" - KCRW 89.9 Los Angeles 'Cafe LA' - October '07, Jeremy Sole show March '08
Seeds of Baobab Featured on ‘Morning Becomes Eclectic’ ‘Terra Dance’ Selected as Top Tune, offered for download on their website, podcast - KCRW 89.9 Los Angeles - 12/21/07
"Pati Pati", "Nadaka Bon", "Tifi Congo" and "Brassaville" - KALW 91.7 FM San Francisco - Africa Mix - November 07, December 07, January 08 and March 08
"Take It Easy" - KBBF 89.1 FM Santa Rosa, CA - Music International -January 08 and Febuary 08
"Terra Dance" on 89.9 WEVL Memphis - 'Radio Ear Candy' - January 08
"Ya Sedina" on KPFA 94.1 FM Berkeley, CA - Music of the World - February '08
“Agua” on KCRW 89.9 FM Los Angeles - ‘Cafe LA’ - February ‘08,
"Agua" on KCRW 89.9 FM Los Angeles - 'Chocolate City' March '08
"Terra Dance" on KEXP 90.3 FM Seattle - 'The Best Ambiance' - March '08
"Take it Easy" on KEXP 90.3 FM Seattle - 'The Best Ambiance' - June '08
"Terra Dance" on KXLU 88.9 FM Los Angeles - 'Groovetime' - June '08
Photos
Bio
Claude Gomis hails from Dakar, Senegal, West Africa and currently resides in Brooklyn. He makes a living as a musician, painter, sculptor and producer.
His love of music and art began early on, when he would go to concerts with his father, Rudy Gomis of Orchestra Baobab. He often joined them onstage singing, playing the cowbell or dancing.
This summer he joined them for the Northeastern U.S. leg of their World Tour.
He and his father Rudy also recorded some tracks for the new album by The Superpowers, "Trance for Nation".
Claude is credited with helping spur the trend of playing percussion alongside d.j.'s, which he has done at places such as the Tunnel, Serafina, the Plumm, P.M., Lotus, Bembe, Bijoux and Joe's Pub.
He has played with Midnite as well as the Brazooka Band, Les Souci, Junior Jazz, Sadao Watanabe as well as Asiko Brothers and the Asiko Drum Convention. Claude wrote songs, sang and played percussion in the Mud Band, an amalgam of funky musicians that includes African and Latin percussionists, horn players, jazz vocalists, and a turntablist.
When Fela Kuti died, Claude was the lone percussionist who played in the tribute at Summerstage.
Currently, Claude plays with various bands, but is focused on releasing his own music. For his recent album, he worked with Tony Cedras, Jojo Kuo and Kaissa.
He has released two cds independently and released his first full-length CD, Seeds of Baobab, nationwide on October 23rd, 2007.
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