Music for beautiful evenings

I caught the Amadou and Mariam concert in the park the other day and was struck by how much it captured equally what I like and dislike about shows in the park, which pretty much aligns with what I like and don't like about crowds. Also, what I like and dislike about women in flowing dresses swaying to the music with their eyes closed. Still, you can't argue with a beautiful evening. I'm not sure if this tune got played, but a brief crawl through their albums got its loping groove deeply stuck in my brain.  

Amadou and Mariam — Sarama

Thumb piano dreamtime

Wouldn't you know it...a week of work stress segues right into a weekend of sore-throated body fatigue, flirting with a full-on cold. I'm always amazed how the body—ever loyal to external obligations—keeps it together just long enough to collapse when free time comes around. 

Anyway, bring on the over-the-counter feelgood agents. And throw in some semi-hallucinogenic African thumb piano grooves. This one would be a dreamy head-bobber if the dude's voice didn't detour into a terrifying place at 2:32 and 3:22. An apt segue back to the workweek.

Francis Bebey - Bissau