CD Review: Kasse Mady Diabate's 'Kirike'

Kasse Mady Diabate
Kirike
Six Degrees Records

Mali's heralded griot, Kasse Mady Diabate, comes from a very musical region of West Africa and possesses a lengthy musical resume working with the Orchestre Regional Super Mande de Kangaba, Ibrahima Sylla, Ketama, Toumani Diabate, and Taj Mahal. Kasse Mady sings in Bambara--the primary language of southern Mali. For nearly five decades, Kasse Mady has been creating music with griot praise-songs and rootsy folk idioms without resorting to shiny pop confections. Kasse Mady is joined by Makan Badje Tounkara on ngoni, Lansine Kouyate on balafon, Ballake Sissoko on kora, and Vincent Segal on cello. The entire group creates a chamber-like musical result that is poignant and intimate. At times, the instruments take turns rattling listeners into a frenzy, but in a rather reserved manner. This is a very mature recording showing great depth and knowledge of griot music and world fusion. Anyone into West African music should acquire Kirike. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba's 'Jama Ko'

Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba
Jama Ko
Outhere Records

Mali's ngoni masters, Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba, bring us another amazing treat, Jama Ko. The ngoni lute, an instrument hailing from Mali, Africa, creates scintillating sounds that are kora-like. This is Afro-pop at its finest. There are featured artists, including Khaira Arby, Zoumana Tereta, Taj Mahal, Kasse Mady Diabate, and Amy Sacko. There are chilling male and female vocals that would win-over fans of Mali music without a doubt. Some of the songs are more upbeat and include organ, drums, and electric guitar. However, the majority of songs are steeped in the rich, cultural history of Malian music traditions in a contemporary format. Overall, the fine list of guests and engaging ngoni blues are something worth listening to. If you get a chance to see the group live, do not miss it. There is a limited, 2-LP release of this title, too. ~ Matthew Forss