by Surya Prakasha and Traditional Yoruba/Santeria Prayer
Dedicated to Jai Prakasha and Milton Cardona
Verses are from a Cuban Santeria prayer to Xangô, known as the Orixa of thunder and lightning. 
Translation from Yoruba, a West African language and religion that survived the middle passage of the slave trade:  
“We call on the god of the earth, asking for connection. We pay respect to Oshun, goddess of the sweet waters.  We ask permission from Elegua, keeper of the crossroads.  May it be so!  The king (Xangô) is not dead!” 

Surya Prakasha (drum set, lead vocals, harmonium), Evan Fraser (kalimba, vocals), Eliyahu Sills (upright bass, vocals)


Xangô

by Bolo
Vocal melody composed by Jai Uttal, © Pavana Suta Music/BMI
Translation from Sanskrit:  "Sing ’God’" 

Eliyahu Sills (bansuri flute), Surya Prakasha (drum set, vocals), Evan Fraser (bass kamale ngoni)


Sunshine

by Ayub Ogada/Mbarak Achieng © Real World Records
Arrangement by Surya Prakasha 

Translation from Dholuo:  
“Rain is coming, do you hear what I say? 
The rain is on its way, return our cattle home.
Children, what is it that you think you do?
The rain is on it's way, return our cattle home.”

Surya Prakasha (drum set, lead vocals, harmonium), Evan Fraser (kamale ngoni, vocals), Eliyahu Sills (bansuri, upright bass, vocals)


Kothbiro

by Evan Fraser
Evan Fraser (kalimba), Surya Prakasha (drum set), Eliyahu Sills (upright bass)


Buzz

by Eliyahu Sills
Eliyahu Sills (nai), Evan Fraser (bendir), Surya Prakasha (khol)


Khol

by Hamza El Din © Sounds True 
arrangement & lyrics by Eliyahu Sills 
Translation from Arabic & Hebrew: “Peace, Peace my friend.  Blessed are those who arrive, welcome to you my friend, my dear one.”
Eliyahu Sills (oud, lead vocals), Evan Fraser (bendir, vocals), Surya Prakasha (drum set, vocals)


Greetings

by Bolo
Surya Prakasha (drum set, lead vocals, harmonium), Evan Fraser (kamale ngoni, vocals), Eliyahu Sills (bansuri, upright bass, vocals)


Nah Ee Nah

by Bolo
words and vocal melody by Ali Farka Toure © World Circuit Records
Translation from Fulani: “It is wise to speak less, to use words sparingly.”
Eliyahu Sills (nai flute, upright bass, vocals), Surya Prakasha (drum set, lead vocals), Evan Fraser (bass kamale ngoni, vocals)


Mahini Mei

Track 06

Track 05

Track 04

Track 03

Track 02

    "The world music group celebrates the Divine by using an arsenal of musical instruments from various parts of the world, developing exquisite pieces that blend world music with jazz rhythms and stylings."
    -World Music Central

    BOLO is a dynamic ensemble with Surya Prakasha (Lavay Smith) on drumset, vocals and harmonium, Eliyahu Sills (The Qadim Ensemble) on ney & bansuri flutes, oud, and upright bass, and Evan Fraser (Dirtwire) on West African kamale ngoni (harp), kalimba, and percussion.

    With a fresh improvisational approach, the group creates music that will move, uplift and transport. Featuring African sourced grooves with sacred folk songs, African and Indian melodies, BOLO speaks to the heart in a musical language that bridges continents and unites us all.

Instruments:
Bansuri: bamboo flute from India. From Sanskrit words ‘Bans’ = bamboo & ‘sur’ = musical note.
Nai (Ney in Turkish): Middle-Eastern flute made from the reed. Nai is a Farsi word, meaning ‘reed.’ It’s believed to be the oldest melodic instrument on earth.
Kalimba: African thumb piano, found throughout sub-saharan Africa.
Kamale Ngoni: African harp with 10 strings. A cousin of the Kora, from Mali and Burkina Faso.
Bass Kamale Ngoni: lower register African harp, with 10 strings.
Bendir: North African frame drum with gut snares and goat skin.
Drum set: invented by Ludwig & Co. with the introduction of foot pedals, made famous by jazz drummer Warren 'Baby' Dodds.
Harmonium: portable hand-pumped reed organ, brought to India by European missionaries.
Khol: two-sided clay drum from northeastern India, traditionally used in devotional music.  
Oud: Middle-Eastern, pear-shaped, fretless instrument with 11 strings.  It’s name comes from the Arabic word ‘oud’ that means ‘wood.’
Upright Bass: from the European Viol family. The bass became part of the rhythm section in Jazz and other music of the Americas by being played with fingers instead of a bow.
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Engineered & Mixed by John Schimpf
Photography by Ahri Golden
Graphic Design by Mirissa Neff
Mastering by eO
Recorded at 25th Street Recording, Oakland, CA

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We are very grateful to our families, teachers, friends, music lovers, dancers, and benefactors who made this album possible.  We give thanks to the Creator and to the Earth for providing everything we need: water, air, food, and the organic elements from which musical instruments are made. We honor and offer gratitude to the cultural curators of the world who cultivate traditional arts and pass them from generation to generation.  


BOLO

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