Music from Grandmaster Masese's cell phone, by Grandmaster Masese

Music from Grandmaster Masese's cell phone

by Grandmaster Masese

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James Loves You The blending of chants, folk music, field recording, and spoken word on this album makes for one of the most unique music experiences I've had all year. Rest In Power to Grandmaster Masese. Favorite track: Obokano 13.

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Streaming + Download

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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$7 USD or more
Book/Magazine + Digital Album
Sometime around the beginning of the pandemic, we approached Masese about doing a book on obokano music while he was sequestered in his home village of Nyamira. Not one to waste time, Masese hit the ground runing and completed several interviews... but the project ran out of money and got sidelined. With Masese's recent passing, we decided to complete the book including his interviews, an extended interview with Masese himself and material on obokano music and Masese himself, along with numerous pictures.

Limited edition of 100 copies.

Includes unlimited streaming of Music from Grandmaster Masese's cell phone via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

ships out within 7 days

Purchasable with gift card

$15 USD or more
Music from Grandmaster Masese's Cell Phone Limited Cassette
Cassette + Digital Album
Music from Grandmaster Masese's cell phone on a cassette. Experience the sounds of Nyamira on a professionally duplicated cassette tape in shrink wrap.

Limited edition of 25.

Includes unlimited streaming of Music from Grandmaster Masese's cell phone via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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Grandmaster Masese Book and Tape Bundle
Cassette + Digital Album
Get the book "The Music Will Not Die" and the companion cassette in one bundle for one discounted price.

Includes unlimited streaming of Music from Grandmaster Masese's cell phone via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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1.	Obokano 1 01:53	buy track
2.	Obokano 2 (feat Grandmaster Mases) 00:37	buy track
3.	Obokano 3 01:15	buy track
4.	Obokano 4 02:37	buy track
5.	Obokano 5 00:11	buy track
6.	Nyamira 01:02	buy track
7.	Obokano 6 01:28	buy track
8.	Obokano 7 01:36	buy track
9.	Obokano 9 00:27	buy track
10.	Obokano 10 01:40	buy track
11.	Obokano 11 01:58	buy track
12.	Obokano 12 00:54	buy track
13.	Chickens 01:06	buy track
14.	Obokano 13 01:02	buy track
15.	Obokano 14 02:51	buy track
16.	Obokano 15 00:50	buy track
17.	Obokano 16 (a capella) 01:15	buy track
18.	Obokano 17 01:00	buy track
19.	Obokano 8 02:49	buy track

about

Sometime in 2020, Masese and I had an idea to write a book about the obokano, the giant and unforgettable bowl lyre of the Gusii people of Western Kenya, notable for its distinctive, bass heavy buzzing sounds. The idea was that he would interview extant obokano players and write some things about obokano... for which he would have to travel throughout Kishii and record interviews with whoever he could find.

At some point, he sent me a giant zip file of all the audio on his phone, which was fortuitous, given that his phone was stolen soon after. Very unfortunately, Masese passed suddenly in June of 2022.In digging out the material for his book (which I intend to complete as best it can be completed), I found the gigantic zip file and dug through it.

Masese has recorded several interviews, but along the way also recorded some live performances of obokano players local to Nyamira, his home village. It wasn't difficult for me to pull them out and create a collection of tracks.

This is a collection of sounds recorded by and curated by Grandmaster Masese himself. It is impossible to know the details of the recordings now that he is gone, but it is my hope that this free collection of sounds both reveals Masese's rare dedication to obokano music, and also shows Masese for the warm, generous and singular human being he was.

Each recording is clearly made with love, both for the music and the performers themselves, which is exactly how Masese approached everything.

I cannot express how much I miss Masese. He was one of the best people I have met in my lifetime. While I feel a hole in the place that Masese occupied in my heart, I also feel incredibly blessed to have known him and to have been able to bring his music to the world.

Thank you, Masese, wherever you are, for everything you did.

Pete Larson, Dagoretti Records

credits

released July 20, 2022

Grandmaster Masese

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about

Dagoretti Records Ann Arbor, Michigan

"Dagoretti" is the confluence of three large pathways in Nairobi connecting all of Kenya together. It is also the Swahilified pronounciation of "The great."

We like to think that we put out great records that connect distant places together. ... more

dagorettirecords.com

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