Music for December - Season's Greetings

This is a long overdue update to the Tolerant Traveler.

It is a good time of year for presents and gifts and WOW have I had the good fortune of listening to some amazing new music.

First out of the bag is a group not to be underestimated. Revered throughout Senegal, Orchestra Baobab have regrouped and issued a very special album out now on World Circuit records. But let’s rewind a second; are you in the dark about Orchestra Baobab?

Run now to your music store and purchase immediately "Specialist in all Styles" which offers the glamour of Tarantino's 'Pulp Fiction', the soul of James Brown, and the poignancy of the arias of Anita O'Day. Their new album simply called "Made in Dakar" opens with a number unmistakably Baobab, ‘Pape Ndiaye’. But for me the real track of pleasure is 'Nijaay' with an opening guitar riff that rolls down the octave like Bach's Toccata & Fugue in D Minor.

For the second group we travel back Mozambique (land of the legendary Dilon Djindi, featured on TT 26/2/2007) and a group called Massukos. Their album, "Bumping" is a ball of energy, with a foot-tapping funky Hammond on ‘NDjango’ set against a dub-style groove. Back in Mozambique they are considered national treasures due to their instrumental artistry as well as their humanitarian work. They have been hailed as the next ‘Buena Vista Social club’, but this album leaves the tinny sounding drums very much in Cuba, and replaces them with solid African percussion. Other tracks such as ‘Pangira (unplugged)’ will just stop you in your tracks as the beauty of this guitar and voice cappella has this effect. The video below shows off one of their live performances and I encourage you to visit their website, http://www.massukos.org/, to discover more about this fantastic group.



Last, is a group from Tokyo that I discovered completely by chance. On myspace, http://www.myspace.com/setsubunbeanunit, they define themselves as "Traditional Space Funk" and I have to say that their music is a complete fusion of sounds and musical era’s from all music cultures. Think of Miles Davis's inspirational album ‘Bitches Brew’ crossed with Pink Floyd’s effects boxes against a backdrop of crackly old 72rpms from the 1930's. Interesting!



Have a great break during this festive season, see you for more great music in 2008.

London African Music Festival - and the Ngoni-ists

The London African Music Festival, takes place from the 18th - 30th May in the cultural hub that is the South Bank Centre. Featured artists include Ba Cissoko - a group that plug their Cora's into guitar effects boxes for some truly magical playing (see photo left) - Kekele (TT article ), giants such as Africando (TT article), and old faithfuls such as Roy Ayers. If you are in the metropolis this is something not to miss out on, see the full list of artists here.

Returning to the music releases, last month saw the Malian Ngoni master Bassekou Kouyate's album Segu Blue. Those familiar with the regions local artists may have noticed him appearing with Toumani Diabate where he accompanied on the Cora. Kouyate also had the honour of playing most of the Ngoni solos on Ali Farka Toure’s final album, Savane.

For those a little mystified by the Ngoni, it is an African lute with a plucked and drier sounds when played alongside the Cora. Segu Blue is receiving wide praised as it is the first time a Ngoni quartet has been captured in a single recording, it's clear also that the appearance of Kouyate is adding extra weight to this new world music entry.

For the uninitiated to Ngoni music I do have reservations about whether this is album represents a good entry piece for them as sometimes the recording suffers a little from being over cluttered due the number of Ngoni's in full swing. However for those of us deeply involved in Malian music this is a wonderful album that brings together some truly inspired vocalists and musicians capturing and documenting for us another classic slice of West-African music.

I'm sharing a single track, Sinsani from the album here, which features the sublime vocals of Kasse Mady Diabate. In true griot tradition the song tells a story, this time of a great ruler during the last days of the Bamana Empire. Malamini Sisse was dedicated this song by the griots to record the generosity and kindness he had showed to them.

Bassekou Kouyate (feat. Kassy Mady Diabate) - Sinsani

The Living History Book - Griot Tradition

The word "Griot" appears often in the sleeve notes of some of the albums featured on the TT in this first month. So, an explanation of this important character and their position in West African society is worthy of some further investigation.

In the days of the great Malian empire in the middle of the 14th Century the Griot's role was fundamental. They were the wise men who at the very senior level provided advice to kings and guidance on present-day dilemmas and problems, while at the grass-roots level mediated marriage rites or disputes that arose between families.

On top of this their hereditary linage meant that could lay claim to being living, breathing history books of the era and their position was elevated by this fact.

In the Epic of Sundjata, King Naré Maghann Konaté offered his son Sundiata a griot, Balla Fasséké, to advise him in his reign. Balla Fasséké is thus considered the first griot and the founder of the Kouyaté line of griots that exists to this day.

Over time the griot also became official musicians of society and would be called on to entertain the king and his entourage, as well as help to prepare warriors for battle with rousing stories - in fact a warrior king (jatigi) could not be without his griot.

Today the griot is still a revered character in West-African society.

Griot artists include: Mory Kanté (Guinea), Ba Cissoko (Guinea), Kasse Mady Diabate (Mali), Toumani Diabaté (Mali), Baba Sissoko (Mali).

(Picture featured: Fernand Allard L’Olivier, 1883–1933 Belgian, Kiyu Agricole date unknown, Oil on canvas)

African All Stars - TT Collective Mix

The TT collective mix brings together some of the major artists that have been featured in this first month of musical exploration (and shows off other faces that still have to have their own unique spotlight on these pages).

I hope that I've been able to share with you a taste of West Africa's contribution to global rhythm, extending to a depth only surpassed by Captain Nemo. Musical styles which borrow from Cuba, such as those from Kekele and Africando, melodies with their roots in Senegal and Mali copied and served up by the latest elected 24-hour pop sensation, and finally instruments such as the Cora that transcend rhythmic boundaries to offer something completely new and fresh

The African All Stars...(130MB download, 68 mins)

Track Listing: Cheikh Lo - Sou, Ba Cissoko - Allah Lake, Daby Balde - Mido Waino, Dianeba Seck - Bolokolonia, Kekele - Mace, Orchestra Baobab - Dee Moo Wer, Toumani Diabate - Mali Sadio, Tony Allen - One Tree, Tinariwen - Cler Achel, Mory Kante - Nafiya, Africando - Fatalikou, Nuru Kane - Talibe, Ali Farka Toure & Toumani Diabate - Kala, Amadou & Miriam - La Realite, Afel Bocoum - Alasida, Djeli Mouse Diawara - Almany, Ba Cissoko – Silany.

Kekele - Rumba in the Congo

It is to the Democratic Republic of Congo that the next musical focus belongs.

The roots of Congolese Rumba can be found in the city of Kinshasa (Leopoldville at the time) where local musicians started becoming familiar with Cuban music through radio broadcasts made during the 1950s. Hearing these imported sounds artists sought to combine them with their own local rhythms.

Congolese Rumba was born out of this musical cross pollination and it went on to dominate African popular music throughout the 1960s and 70s. Fast forward to the new millennium and for todays up and coming generation it’s been relegated to musical history.

However, Kekele, whose band members musical experience exceeds one-hundred years, have resurrected the Congolese Rumba. Their latest album Kinavana (and before that Rumba Congo) has first rate production and is sonically fantastic. They prove that’s it not just Tito Puente or Buena Vista Social club that know how to work those Cuban rhythms.

Listen to the track I’ve featured on this page, close your eyes and play guess the country.

Kekele - KinTokobuta Mikuwa

We could be sitting on a beach in Hawaii, cocktail in hand watching the hula girls swaying gently in the breeze. We could in Cuba playing dominoes in the street, or we could be in Africa? No way, we can’t be in Africa! But that’s exactly where we are!

The joy of this album for me is its ability to transport you to a place that leaves you guessing, albums like this remind us that we are all part of the same whole.

All Star Global Warming

Remember Global warming? that period in the 1990s that saw Governments and its communities creating a movement for being more environmentally conscious? That’s right you remember when people started to recycle, and they invented those enormous light bulbs that used less energy. Well, it seems that since the West captured Saddam and Osama has fallen out of the media spotlight environmentalism has made a welcome return to the global agenda. Now communities are made to feel that every freak weather condition is due not to industrial pollution or the seven litre car that has just pulled up alongside them at the traffic lights, but because they put a plastic bottle into a paper recycling bin.

Whatever the politics of it all here is a musical benefit, Rhythms del Mundo is a first for ‘Artists’ Project Earth' - the climate change and disaster relief charity.

The first album features a collaboration of artists including Coldplay, U2, Dido & Faithless, Sting, as well Ibrahim Ferrer and Omara Portuondo from Buena Vista Social Club. It is the latter two stars that bring to the album the overall flavour: Buena Vista versions of the featured artists most well known songs.

The result is distinctive: Colplay's Clocks, gets a new lease of life with Cuban instruments dissolving the desperation found in the original version, and catapulting the song to a fresher, more positive level. Also Omara Portuondo’s version of the Fugees hit, Killing me Softly, is another notable performance.

Find out more about the album on their website www.rhythmsdelmundo.com

I hope that in the future APE finds a way to team up with artists such as Toumani Diabate, Vieux Farka Toure, Kelele, Africando and Tony Allen to bring these fantastic artists to the global stage.

Dilon Djindji - Timing is everything

From the sound of the sitars we journey back across the Indian Ocean to the south coast of Africa. Here we find the musical neighbour to Madagascar, a style called Marrabenta which has its roots in the capital city of Maputo, and its heritage in one man's shoes, Dilon Djindji.

He is to Marrabenta what James Brown became to funk, and his first album, simply entitled Dilon, comes at the tender age of 75. He began his road to musicianship at the age of 12 when he made himself a three-stringed guitar out of an oilcan, soon to be upgraded to a six-string version. Through a lifetime which includes pastoral work, time spent in the mines of South-Africa and a final return to his home district of Marracuene, he has notched up a reputation of being 'a man of a thousand stories'.

This album features songs that were performed over a fifteen year period from 1950 onwards and shows that more than half a century ago the people of Mozambique were quietly enjoying a musical revolution all of their own.

The track featured here, Maria Teresa, tells the story of one man torn between two women.

Dilon Djindji - Maria Teresa

Anoushka Shankar - India Rising

Our first female artist to be featured on the TT captures the unique spirit of a country very close to my heart, India. They say some places on this earth can change your perspective on everything, and India is certainly that place - I think that if the same number of people in New Delhi were crammed into a similar space in London, my home town, there would be complete and utter mayhem.

However because there exists a profound kinship among Indian people, the daily hustle and bustle of getting around and being crammed 400 strong into a double decker bus, does not end with knives and guns being drawn.

In a country where the rich are super rich and the poor are devastatingly so, there is a spiritual strength that allows people to carry themselves, no matter what their circumstance, with tremendous dignity.

Anoushka Shankar is the daughter of the sitar virtuoso and composer Ravi Shankar with whom she has been playing and studying since the age of nine. She already has a highly acclaimed career, even if it is still early days for her professionally, and her music captures what I consider to be the warmth and joy India has to offer.

Anoushka Shankar - Prayer in Passing

Keeping it in the family: Ravi Shankar working the Sitar

Niafunké on the Niger

As member of Ali Farka Touré's "ASCO" group since the age of 13, Afel Bocoum's first solo album captures the spirit of the late great man's style, adding his own unique twist which he calls "Arabo-Muslim....in the Great River tradition."

As this first album shows, he is very much an artist in his own right, presenting a music that captures the twists and turns of daily life on the Niger.

Afel plays lead guitar, and with his group Alkibar, is accompanied by other local instruments which include the Njarka (a one stringed violin), Njurkle (a mono-chord guitar) and a small chorus of male and female singers. Listen carefully and you'll hear the great man of Niafunké himself on two of the tracks, although Afel proves to us with this first offering, that Niafunké has a new and powerful voice that has been waiting in the wings.

Afel Bocoum - Alasida

Afel Bocoum & Damon Albarn (see his album Mali Music) who joins Robert Plant in the queue of UK artists converted to Mali Music

Modeste - Living our Destiny

Off the south-east coast of Africa lies Madagascar and if you journey a little further in you will find Modeste Hugues Randramahitasoa, and his album Fomba (Living our Destiny), offering a musical canvas filled with the sounds of the Betroka region.

A musician since the age of 15, the musical style is called Malagasy and it combines the natural sounds of the African bush with the warm undertones found in the traditional South African gospel tradition.

The music itself is beautifully played and structured, and manages to convey a feeling of serenity and solitude – it’s just Modeste and his guitar on stage. It’s also interesting to compare his music with that of Afel Bocoum from Mali - both musicians with the guitar - to note the differences the environment can play on the music (Afel Bocoum on the River Niger, and Modeste on the Onilahy River).

His music also manages to evoke an air of melancholy and reflection, something I find more common in South American performers such as Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil or going back a bit, Astrud Gilberto. You can judge for yourself....

Modeste - Fomba
Modeste’s set at the Europe in Union Concert, September 2003

All Kneel, The Cora

One secret of West African music

The Cora is the godly 21-stringed harp from West Africa. It can be found principally in countries such as the Gambia, Senegal, Guinea, and Mali where artists such as Toumani Diabate, Ba Cissoko and Baba Sissoko bring to life this instrument in all its colours.

The beauty of the Cora is the way it can operate at so many different levels. It can play high, middle, and low notes like most instruments, but the Cora can transcend these boundaries by giving the musician the option to play across all three tonal ranges simultaneously.

The result is mind-blowing: a single musician can provide a bass drum rhythm, add the melody, and then freestyle all at the same time.

I discovered the Cora 6 years ago walking through London's busy Leicester Square where I stumbled upon a musician getting elastic with his Cora. I can only say that it just stopped dead me in my tracks, and since then I've never looked back.

Here is small selection of Cora based music that I hope demonstrates how versatile this instrument is, and why it is a giant in its own right:

Ali Farka Toure and Toumani Diabate - Kala

Issa Bagayogo - Dya

Toumani Diabate - Single

See below how Toumani Diabate leaves the Cello struggling for air:

Tinariwen - Saharan Hendrix

Tinariwen's most recent album is on Independiente (UNIVERSAL), a clear sign that the majors are now interested in exploiting the Taureg dimension of sound. Who are Tinariwen? It's best to think of them as a cross between Jimmy Hendrix and Ali Farka Toure set against the backdrop of the Saharan desert. They formed in the camps of the Tuareg rebels in 1982 and their songs are sung traditionally in the French and Tamashek languages.

- Matadjem-Yinmixan, from Aman Iman

The Radio Tisdas Sessions was their first album to be released outside of Africa and in 2004, Amassakoul launched them properly onto the European stage with tour dates and appearances throughout the region. In my opinion Amassakoul is still their best work to date. To watch out for is the DVD "The Soul Rebel of the African Desert" that tells the story of the Taureg rebellion and the role of Tinariwen has played in this struggle.


Tinariwen, Amidiwan (UK music festival, 2007)

Africa - Literature & Learning

Africa - Michael Poliza
£41.00, Hardback, 408pp,
Photographer Michael Poliza has been traveling around Africa with his digital camera taking some of the most amazing wildlife photos I've seen in a long time. With over 400 pages of photos which occupy two page spreads, and introductory text in English, French, Spanish, Italian and German, this will make a perfect present for someone who has an interest in photography or travel. The book weighs over 5KGs and I'm sure its the type of item that would kill off Amazon if everyone ordered a copy.

Ali Farka Touré (1939 - 2006)

Commemorating the “bluesman of Africa”

I must dedicate an entry on this page to Ali Farka Touré, the self-taught blues man from Bamako in Mali, who constructed a bridge between musical styles. He combined traditional Malian music with American one note blues. His songs are about the virtues of hard work, honour and decency.

In 1994 his collaboration with Ry Cooder on Talking Timbuktu, and two years ago with Toumani Diabate, In the Heart of the Moon, were just two of many commercially successful albums he released. His last recorded album, Savane, is his final testament to a music that he created, and that generations will continue to grow.

Ali Farka Toure and Afel Bocoum, Festival in the Desert in 2003

Cheikh N'Digel Lo - Melting Rhythms

Cheikh N'Digel Lo
This album was released in 2005 and is Cheikh Lo's third on World Circuit Records. An artist that grew up in Burkino Faso but now lives and writes music from Senegal, he first came to attention supporting giants such as Youssou N'Dour. This album combines Salsa and Rhumba Congo styles with more traditional Senegalese cantatas which have been more the staple of emerging artists such as Nuru Kane.

Lamp Fall - Sou

Africando - Ketukuba

Africando

My latest purchase is by a group formed in 1990 to bring together New York Salsa Musicians with Senegalese folk singers. The result is a sound that has the complex rhythms of artists like Orchestra Baobab and Tony Allen, with the freeform funkyness of Tito Puente.

I'm posting one track here just to give you a flavour of what you can expect.

- Bogne Sirala - Amadou Balaké