http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.34300&rws=%2Fgigi%2Fmusic-videos.rssGigi rocked the often unflappable world music community with her self-titled 2001 debut. Expertly shepherded by the sometimes over-prolific Bill Laswell, the release harnessed the Ethiopian sensibilities that made the <i>Ethiopiques</i> series so celebrated and gives them a masterful updating with the help of a powerful cast of musicians that amazingly includes jazzmen Wayne Shorter and Pharoah Sanders as well as master percussionists/experimentalists Karsh Kale and Aiyb Dieng. But the real focus is Gigi herself, a massively talented and relatively young singer who is already phrasing her lyrics like a seasoned professional. Oh, yeah -- she writes all her own music as well. Gigi's a very welcome voice in the never talent-thirsty world music realm. - Sarah BardeenAfricaen720Tue, 29 Dec 2009 12:54:19 -0800 http://static.realone.com/rotw/images/logo_rhapsody_113x22.gif http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.34300&rws=%2Fgigi%2Fmusic-videos.rss Gigi rocked the often unflappable world music community with her self-titled 2001 debut. Expertly shepherded by the sometimes over-prolific Bill Laswell, the release harnessed the Ethiopian sensibilities that made the <i>Ethiopiques</i> series so celebrated and gives them a masterful updating with the help of a powerful cast of musicians that amazingly includes jazzmen Wayne Shorter and Pharoah Sanders as well as master percussionists/experimentalists Karsh Kale and Aiyb Dieng. But the real focus is Gigi herself, a massively talented and relatively young singer who is already phrasing her lyrics like a seasoned professional. Oh, yeah -- she writes all her own music as well. Gigi's a very welcome voice in the never talent-thirsty world music realm. - Sarah Bardeen