The Whole Music Experience

Women Stand Up; Women Speak Up Women musicians from the West African country, Mali grabbed my attention in 2001 and I’m still enthralled by their personal power and musical talent.   In 2002, I received Tama’s recording Espace in the mail featuring the vocals of Mamani Keita sung over warm acoustic guitar, the Malian banjo, ngoni and percussion and I haven’t forgotten Keita’s vocals over the years. With her solo album, Kanou (World Village), Mamani Keita sings in a traditional voice about contemporary social issues, but mostly she sends an invitation out to women of the world to stand up against violence towards women and children as well as, keeping our world leaders on the same page as the people who voted for them.   Keita uses her powerful voice and musical gifts to bring transformation to the world acting as a messenger for all of us. Please note that this interview has been through three translations and lyrics weren’t included with the CD. ...

World   Debademba Souleymane   World Village Some of the first world music I heard was from West Africa.   I started out with Senegalese music then discovered Malian music and West African music found a place in my life.   With so many musical styles hailing from West Africa, sometimes bands come along that mix and match while causes us to dance our feet off.   Debademba (led by guitarist Abdoulaye Traoré of Ghana and Malian griot vocalist Mohamed Diaby) performs High Life (Ghana), mbalax (Senegal), Afro-Beat (Nigeria) and griot blues (Mali) on their second album, Souleymane . These musicians supply us with ample infectious rhythms played on calabashes and other percussion, shimmering kora, acoustic guitar, soaring vocals, as well as, violin, cello, flute, piano and chorus (women and men vocals).   I dare you not to dance. Okay, so it’s not all fast grooves and primal beats.   Djiki snakes along to Arabic modes with vocals so s...

World   Mamadou Kelly   Adibar   Clermont Music We are so fortunate these days to experience music of Mali.   Given events in recent years, where Muslim fundamentalists rounded up musicians, burned instruments, and cut off hands of Malian musicians, the musical spirit of Mali continued.   These days, a fragile peace reigns in Mali and we can only wonder about the powerful role music played in keeping hope alive and bringing a sense of solidarity. Malian guitarist and singer Mamadou Kelly brings us Malian grooves on his album Adibar .   Teaming up with Niafunke musicians that produced Ali Farka Toure and Afel Bocoum’s albums, we are reminded here of Ali Farka Toure’s snaky desert blues.   While guitar is the main instrument with Malian blues vocals, we also hear the traditional calabashes (percussion), spike fiddle (ndjarka), a mandolin-like instrument (djourkel) and bass.   The end result is chill-out music, moving at a slo...

World/Mali   Vieux Farka Toure Mon Pays   Six Degrees Records   Mali faces more trouble with Islamic fundamentalists warring against Tuareg nomads in the north part of the country and music was banned.   Anyone who enjoys Malian music has most likely heard of this sad news, yet the music keeps coming, showing us a face of hope, defiance and peace, at least in the hearts of the Malian people. Vieux Farka Toure, the son of the late Malian guitar legend, Ali Farka Toure records his best album thus far, Mon Pays which speaks of anguish for his fellow Malians and also possesses a healing force not found anywhere but in music.   Mostly an acoustic album with blues guitar, the traditional kora (West African harp), ngoni, and calabashes, you will also hear piano on the final track Ay Bakoy , played by Israeli Idan Raichel, a friend and musical collaborator of Vieux. These aren’t the only instruments you will hear on this tapestry of African, Mi...