Baka Beyond

Baka Beyond embodies the cross-cultural outlook of Martin Cradick, a former Outback guitarist, mandolinist, and bouzouki player, together with his wife Su Hart. The ensemble blends Celtic and West African traditions through an ongoing partnership between northern European and West African musicians.

Cradick and Hart formed the project soon after Outback disbanded in 1992. They journeyed to Cameroon’s rain forest, resided among Baka pygmies, and captured their performances on tape. The resulting field recording, Heart of the Forest: The Music of the Baka Forest People of Southeast Cameroon, appeared in 1993. With Breton fiddler Paddy LeMercier now on board, Cradick and Hart cut two albums alongside Baka musicians: Spirit of the Forest in 1994 and The Meeting Pool in October 1995.

The lineup gradually expanded into a road-ready group that incorporated ex-Outback Senegalese percussionist Sagar N’Gom, former Orb keyboardist Tom Green, drummer Sam Pope, bassist Marcus Pinto, and vocalist Kate (Budd) Hardy. On the more elaborately produced 1998 release Journey Beyond, the band welcomed additional guests, among them percussionists from Ghana’s Kakasitsi ensemble. Although the bulk of the sessions took place in England, the African vocal tracks for “Migrations” and “Konti” were laid down during a Senegal trip undertaken by Cradick, Hart, and their son.