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Village Life
Studio album by Herbie Hancock and Foday Musa Suso
Released	December 1985 (Japan)
Recorded	August 7–9, 1984
Studio	CBS/Sony Shinanomachi Studio, Shinanomachi, Tokyo
Genre	Jazz fusion, Mandé music
Length	40:38
Label	CBS/Sony, Columbia
Producer	Bill Laswell, Herbie Hancock
Herbie Hancock chronology
Sound-System (1984) Village Life (1985) Round Midnight (1986)

Village Life is an album by jazz pianist Herbie Hancock and Mandinka griot Foday Musa Suso. It was recorded in Japan and released in 1985. Hancock and Suso had worked together as part of a larger ensemble for Hancock's 1984 album Sound-System, and Village Life was recorded shortly after a world tour. There are no overdubs, Village Life was recorded live in the studio. The album was coproduced by Bill Laswell.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic

The Globe and Mail wrote that "Hancock generally adds color in four pieces that move lightly when they move at all... Pretty, but ultimately a curio." The Christian Science Monitor wrote that "Hancock traces lacy patterns around Suso's native vamps, underscoring the latter's vocals."

Track listing

1. "Moon/Light" (Hancock, Suso) - 7:57
2. "Ndan Ndan Nyaria" (Suso) - 9:50
3. "Early Warning" (Hancock) - 2:52
4. "Kanatente" (Hancock, Suso) - 19:59

Personnel

Musicians

• Herbie Hancock - detunable Yamaha DX1 synthesizer, Yamaha RX-11 drum machine programming
• Foday Musa Suso - kora, talking drum, vocals

Production

• Herbie Hancock - producer
• Bill Laswell - producer
• Tony Meilandt - associate producer

• Dave Jerden - engineer (recording)
• Tomoo Suzuki - engineer (recording)
• Tetsuro Tomita - engineer (digital editing)
• Wally Traugott - engineer (mastering)
• Nobuhisa Kawabe - assistant engineer
• Shinichi Miyoshi - assistant engineer

• Adam's Dad Management Co. - management
• David Rubinson - management
• Prince Twin-Seven Seven - cover illustration
• Geoffrey Thomas - photography
• Roger Steffens - liner notes

References

1. Gonzalez, Fernando (2 Apr 1989). "World Music: Whose Is It?". The Boston Globe. p. B1.
2. McCracken, David (18 Aug 1989). "Return of the griot". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 3.
3. Catlin, Roger (October 6, 1985). "Herbie Hancock's latest album...". Entertainment. Omaha World-Herald.
4. Ginell, Richard S. (2011). "Village Life - Herbie Hancock | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
5. Miller, Mark (24 Oct 1985). "Village Life Herbie Hancock & Foday Musa Suso". The Globe and Mail. p. D5.
6. Duncan, Amy (February 12, 1986). "Jazz/Pop/Rock". Arts and Leisure. The Christian Science Monitor. p. 24.

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