Gil Felix

UBALAFON IS OUT!

The title track reminds us of Balafon, the fore runner of the piano that was developed in Mali in Western Africa.

With the word Ubalafon, Gil Félix exalts the African roots of all music, as well as expressing the hope that African descendants will shape the future

artistically and politically, for peace.

The album cover -Balafon Beats -

is made by pyrography artist

Djibril N'Doye, .

LATEST ALBUM!
UBALAFON

Trans-Atlantic danceable groove from the burning sun on both sides of the ocean.

Ubalafon carries a warm pan-African message and tributes the African heritage of the Bahían Reconcavo culture and even all human cultures.

In addition to paying tribute to the African heritage of the Recôncavo region of Bahia and to Afro-Brazilian icons such as Olodum, Ilê Aiyê, Filhos de Gandhy and Carlinhos Brown, Gil Félix brings in this work the dilemma of the common human being in times of war and extremism, the persistence of the African people and their ability to renew themselves, hope and the modernity of clicks , which isolates beings from the great beauties of the world.

Ubalafon is an international production with a tri-continental band from Stockholm/Salvador de Bahía, recorded in Stockholm and Salvador de Bahía at the legendary Studio WR, with the master of Bahía sound, Nestor Madrid, at the helm. It is released by Mills Records in Rio de Janeiro with support from the Swedish Arts Council and SELAM Academy.

MUSIC

Gil Felix has developed a vast and eclectic repertoire with original compositions and great hits. Influenced by artists like Gilberto Gil, Bob Marley, Luis Gonzaga and Salif Keita. He has released several albums, singles and collaborations.

ARTIST SPOTIFY PROFILE

“The African music's ebb and flow across the Atlantic,

reshaping and transforming, is evident in Gil Felix’s music.

The new album has both soul and Brazil's characteristic suinge!” -

Åsa Veghed, music journalist and author of the book Brazilian Music.

ROOTS AND JOURNEY

Gil Felix from Salvador de Bahía, mandingo and brasilero, embodies the Afro-Brazilian experience, with family roots in both West Africa and South America. Gil Felix has created a unique pan-ethnic sound inspired by Gilberto Gil, Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Oloudum, Salif Keita. In Gil Felix´ music the regional Bahían Reconcavo culture meets Caribbean and African musicality: Bossa Nova, Samba Reggae, Rocksteady, Soukous and Afropop in a unique musical universe. The result is an irresistible poly-rythmic swing, where storytelling about mankinds´ history and our African roots, is combined with poetic paintings of everyday life.