View source for Specialist in All Styles

{{Infobox album
| name       = Specialist in All Styles
| type       = studio
| artist     = [[Orchestra Baobab]]
| cover      = Specialist in All Styles.jpg
| alt        =
| released   = 2002
| recorded   =
| venue      =
| studio     = [[Livingston Recording Studios]]
| genre      =
| length     =
| label      = [[World Circuit (record label)|World Circuit]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bacon |first1=Peter |title=World CD of the Week |work=Birmingham Post |date=28 Sep 2002 |department=Features |page=52}}</ref><br>[[Nonesuch Records|Nonesuch]]<ref name=PD/>
| producer   = Nick Gold, [[Youssou N'Dour]]
| prev_title = Pirates Choice
| prev_year  = 2001
| next_title = A Night at Club Baobab
| next_year  = 2006
}}
'''''Specialist in All Styles''''' is an album by the Senegalese band [[Orchestra Baobab]], released in 2002.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2008/06/19/91597883/orchestra-baobab-in-concert|title=Orchestra Baobab in Concert|agency=NPR}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Cohen |first1=Aaron |title=Recaptured essence |magazine=DownBeat |date=Dec 2002 |volume=69 |issue=12 |page=52}}</ref> After the success of the ''Pirates Choice'' reissue, the band decided to record a reunion album.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pareles |first1=Jon |title=All the Variety of Africa, Played at a Genteel Pace |work=The New York Times |date=16 July 2002 |page=E5}}</ref> It was Orchestra Baobab's first album in 15 years.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Trapp |first1=Roger |title=Jazz & Blues |work=The Independent |date=27 July 2002 |department=Features |page=38}}</ref> The album title was taken from a sign hanging outside a barbershop.<ref name="NY">{{cite news |last1=Ratliff |first1=Ben |title=Playing Catch With All Kinds of Styles |work=The New York Times |date=3 Nov 2002 |page=2.15}}</ref>
The band supported the album with a world tour.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Moszynski |first1=Peter |title=Senegal: Orchestral Baobab—a legend reborn |magazine=New African |date=Nov 2002 |issue=412 |page=65}}</ref> The album was nominated for a [[Grammy Award]] for "Best Contemporary World Music Album".<ref>{{cite web |title=Orchestra Baobab |url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/orchestra-baobab/17691 |website=Recording Academy |access-date=18 August 2022}}</ref>
==Production==
Recorded over 10 days in London, ''Specialist in All Styles'' was produced by Nick Gold and [[Youssou N'Dour]]; ironically, N'Dour's rise in popularity in the 1980s led in part to Orchestra Baobab's disbandment.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Williamson |first1=Nigel |title=Back to their roots |work=The Times |date=July 12, 2002 |department=Features |page=15}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Fairley |first1=Jan |title=Black with a Vengeance |work=The Scotsman |date=22 July 2002 |page=8}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Williamson |first1=Nigel |title=Orchestral Maneuvers |magazine=Billboard |date=July 20, 2002 |volume=114 |issue=29 |page=61}}</ref><ref name=DF/> Among the returning members were singers Balla Sidibe and Rudy Gomis, guitarist Barthelemy Atisso, and saxophonist Issa Cissoko.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=van Vleck |first1=Philip |title=Specialist in all Styles |magazine=Billboard |date=Oct 19, 2002 |volume=114 |issue=42 |page=19}}</ref> Attiso had barely played guitar in 15 years, and had to relearn after Gold and the band's singers sent one to him.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Moon |first1=Tom |title=Reunited African band bridges the years |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=15 Oct 2002 |page=C1}}</ref> A new singer, Assane Mboup, contributed to the album.<ref name=RS/> Like previous Baobab albums, ''Specialist'' was influenced by Cuban music; it also made use of [[mbalax]] and reggae sounds.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cazares |first1=David |title=Strong Voice Echoes Out of Africa |work=Sun-Sentinel |date=3 Jan 2003 |department=Showtime |page=24}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Pareles |first1=Jon |title=Pop and Jazz Guide |work=The New York Times |date=4 July 2003 |page=E25}}</ref>
[[Ibrahim Ferrer]] and N'Dour sang on "Hommage à Tonton Ferrer".<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J8DgDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA132|title=World Music and the Black Atlantic: Producing and Consuming African-Cuban Musics on World Music Stages|first=Aleysia K.|last=Whitmore|date=May 7, 2020|publisher=Oxford University Press}}</ref><ref name="TS">{{cite news |last1=Chapman |first1=Geoff |title=Worldbeat |work=Toronto Star |date=29 Oct 2002 |page=D6}}</ref> Many songs are remakes of the band's earlier hits, although "Bul Ma Miin" was written for the album.<ref name=NY/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Robbins |first1=Li |title=Specialist in All Styles |work=The Globe and Mail |date=7 Nov 2002 |page=R4}}</ref> "Ndongoy Daara", about malfeasance in Qur'anic educational institutions, was written by the band's first singer, Laye Mboup.<ref name=NI/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Mengel |first1=Noel |title=Orchestra Baobab, Specialist in All Styles |work=The Courier-Mail |date=30 Nov 2002 |page=M9}}</ref> The vocals are in [[Wolof language|Wolof]], [[Mandinka language|Mandinka]], Spanish, and French.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rogers |first1=Matt |title=Specialist in All Styles |work=The Village Voice |date=13 Nov 2002 |volume=47 |issue=46 |page=72}}</ref>
==Critical reception==
{{album ratings
|rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
|rev1score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/specialist-in-all-styles-mw0000661954|title=Orchestra Baobab Specialist in All Styles|website=AllMusic}}</ref>
|rev2 = [[Robert Christgau]]
|rev2score = A<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Orchestra+Baobab|title=Orchestra Baobab|website=Robert Christgau}}</ref>
|rev3 = ''[[Detroit Free Press]]''
|rev3score = {{rating|3|4}}<ref name="DF">{{cite news |last1=Lawson |first1=Terry |title=Sound Judgement Reviews |work=Detroit Free Press |date=10 Nov 2002 |page=J4}}</ref>
|rev4 = ''[[The Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]''
|rev4score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="CL">{{cite book |last1=Larkin |first1=Colin |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |date=2006 |publisher=MUZE |volume=1 |page=412}}</ref>
|rev5 = ''[[New Internationalist]]''
|rev5score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="NI">{{cite magazine |last1=Gray |first1=Louise |title=Specialist in All Styles |magazine=New Internationalist |date=Dec 2002 |issue=352 |page=30}}</ref>
|rev6 = ''[[Philadelphia Daily News]]''
|rev6score = B+<ref name="PD">{{cite news |last1=Takiff |first1=Jonathan |title=Exotica |work=Philadelphia Daily News |date=8 Oct 2002 |department=Features |page=37}}</ref>
|rev7 = ''[[The Province]]''
|rev7score = {{rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="TP">{{cite news |last1=Derdeyn |first1=Stuart |title=Orchestra Baobob: Specialist in All Styles |work=The Province |date=31 Dec 2002 |page=B17}}</ref>
|rev8 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
|rev8score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="RS">{{cite magazine |last1=Kot |first1=Greg |title=Specialist in All Styles |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=Dec 12, 2002 |issue=911 |page=96}}</ref>
}}
[[Robert Christgau]] called the album "the ideal introduction to Baobab's relaxed mastery of American instruments, Cuban rhythms, and Senegalese form-and-content."<ref name="auto1"/> ''[[The Guardian]]'' deemed it "one of the great comeback albums," writing that "many of the songs offer a relaxed, rolling blend of Cuban salsa, African rhythms and boisterous pop melodies, dressed up with uplifting harmony singing and strong saxophone work."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Denselow |first1=Robin |title=The second coming |work=The Guardian |date=6 Sep 2002 |department=Friday |page=15}}</ref> The ''[[Toronto Star]]'' labeled it "a rich and groovy brew of African salsa, with lyrics that track mostly familiar social concerns."<ref name=TS/> ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' wrote that "this is groove music at once relaxed and unyielding, insistent enough for the dance floor, trance-y enough to lull an infant."<ref name=RS/>
''[[Financial Times]]'' stated that "Attiso is on fine, fluid form, throwing out rippling, jazzy solos against Issa Cissokho's saxophone."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Honigmann |first1=David |title=Specialist in All Styles Compact Choice |work=Financial Times |date=21 Sep 2002 |department=Arts |page=6}}</ref> ''[[Newsweek]]'' determined that "though the music retains its unique fusion of Latin and African sounds, the new album is blessed with the added benefit of state-of-the-art production quality and professional sound engineering."<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Brownell |first1=Ginanne |title=Dakar's Superstars |magazine=Newsweek |date=Oct 7, 2002 |page=68}}</ref> ''[[The New York Times]]'' concluded that "the great surprise on ''Specialist'' is Mr. Attiso's haunted, expressive performance."<ref name=NY/> ''[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]]'' opined: "More nuanced and sophisticated than its predecessor, ''Specialist'' features nine intoxicating songs that showcase the group's ebullient call-and-response vocals, swaying rhythms and pinpoint instrumental work."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Varga |first1=George |title=Brightest Africa – Three prime acts, three prime albums |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |date=October 24, 2002 |department=Entertainment |page=7}}</ref> The ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' listed ''Specialist in All Styles'' as the 16th best album of 2002; the ''[[Los Angeles Daily News]]'' considered it the 4th best.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kot |first1=Greg |title=Under pressure from all sides, the music business plays it conservative |work=Chicago Tribune |date=15 Dec 2002 |department=Arts & Entertainment |page=7.1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Shuster |first1=Fred |title=Music Industry Welcomed Alien Concepts in 2002 |work=Los Angeles Daily News |date=1 Jan 2003 |page=U6}}</ref>
[[AllMusic]] wrote that "Attisso is all over this record, offering beautiful, inventive solos and playing whose fluidity, especially on 'Gnawe' and 'Dee Moo Wor', is wonderfully atmospheric."<ref name="auto"/>
==Track listing==
{{Track listing
| all_writing =
| title1 = Bul Ma Miin
| length1 = 6:02
| title2 = Sutukun
| length2 = 5:30
| title3 = Dée Moo Wóor
| length3 = 4:16
| title4 = Jiin Ma Jiin Ma
| length4 = 6:03
| title5 = Ndongoy Daara
| length5 = 5:19
| title6 = On Verra Ça
| length6 = 4:56
| title7 = Hommage à Tonton Ferrer
| length7 = 5:52
| title8 = El Son te Llama
| length8 = 5:25
| title9 = Gnawoe
| length9 = 6:21
}}
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Orchestra Baobab albums]]
[[Category:2002 albums]]
[[Category:World Circuit (record label) albums]]
[[Category:Nonesuch Records albums]]