Toumani Diabaté is the most famous living Kora-player, a West-African bridge-harp with 21 strings. However, the Mali-born musician isn’t just known on the African continent. After having worked together with Taj Mahal, Herbie Hancock, Ali Farka Touré, Damon Albarn and Björk, most European and American pop-music-lovers should have heard of him, too. In collaboration with his son, they have now released »Toumani & Sidiki«. In contrast to his father, Sidiki Diabaté, who is also a virtuous Kora-player, is much more known for his stadium-filling hip-hop project together with the rapper Iba One. However, on this collaboration, father and son are dealing with classical, traditional and modern Kora-music, originally made by the Mande-people in Mali. The two musicians are actual superstars in Africa, part of a 700-years-old family line of musicians and story tellers, the so called Griots. With incredible virtuosity and utmost ease, almost off the cuff, this record ignites a fascinating and complex fireworks display of musicality – and it’s hard to believe that most of the tracks were recorded without any practice and live, full of improvisation and without any overdubs. This album is an intensive, gripping and yet timeless piece of music.
Various Artists
Roots Rocking Zimbabwe: The Modern Sound Of
Analog Africa