Even with the advent of new technology, and Pablo wasn't hesitant about using computer generated beats later in his career, the qualities of mixing bright melody lines with heavy bottom end persisted in his compositions. It could be a vocal line of remarkable soulfulness, the haunting sounds of his melodica, a keyboard or a guitar, but the melody would always sound as if it was billowing upwards, suspended on a cushion of air created by the power of the beats pulsing under it.
With advances in recording technology his dubbing techniques of course became more sophisticated as the years progressed allowing him to shape the original material even more. The technology also allowed him to experiment with percussion as is shown on track eleven on disc three of this set, "Drums For The King." Here he's integrated a traditional akete percussion group with a digital rhythm track to produce a sound that combines the best elements of both worlds. Pablo's use of digital tracks and computer generated music never sound like he's using the technology because it's a convenience. It's more like they are another musical instrument that he can play in his quest to make the music speak more eloquently.
A 20-page booklet included with the box set includes two nicely written overviews of Augustus Palbo the man and the musician. I get the impression that he knew that he was not going to be here for a long time; he was born in 1953 and died in 1999, so he poured his heart and soul into his music - whether he was performing, composing, or producing. The three clips that are included of him performing and being interviewed on the DVD show a very slim, almost ascetic, man of amazing intensity.
He stands at the microphone, reed thin, with his entire being focused on the music he's creating by blowing into his melodica. The thousands of people in the festival audience may as well not exist for all the attention he pays them. Even in the less formal setting of the segments filmed for the documentary this intensity of focus comes through. There is no such thing as casual music, you either strive to do it as well as possible each time you play or you don't do it all.
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