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.

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.

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: