Jul 8/09
The n’goni travels well
Last week the good people at Rock Paper Scissors introduced me to Chieck Hamala Diabate‘s upcoming release, Ake Doni Ani.
I always approach new-world/old-world West African albums with care, but on this one things come together nicely. The opening track that we’ll hear today, Den Woulou Lalou, features Corey Harris‘ slide guitar blending well with the n’goni and a riddim feel riding well with the Malian griot sound. The results are very listenable and make a great start to my mid-week morning.
Cheick Hamala Diabate lives in Washington DC but has some big-time musical genes cred: he’s Toumani Diabate‘s first cousin and Djelimady Tounkara‘s nephew. On this release he teamed up with Corey Harris, some members of Chopteeth and others to produce a distinctly Malian-sounding album with tasteful hints of other influences.
I haven’t been back to Mali since that amazing road trip several years ago and I haven’t been back to DC in even longer.. but hey, I’ll play it like Diabate and stick to what I like from a distance for now.
Speaking of which, many upcoming shows and trips in the mix. August is pretty dead in Paris (in a good way if you ask me) but July and September are chock-a-block with great live African music concerts. Let me know if you’re around for any of these:
Staff Benda Bilili, Konomo No.1 and the Kasai All-Stars on July 15th; Seun Kuti & Fela’s Egypt 80, Amadou & Mariam and Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou on September 1st; Hank Jones & Cheick Tidiane Seck, Mahmoud Ahmed and Alémayèhu Eshèté on September 12th.
And if you know anything about the music scenes in Australia or Borneo…
Cheick Hamala Diabate’s latest release, Ake Doni Doni (Take It Slow) will be out on August 11th, 2009, on Grigri Discs.
Cheick Hamala Diabate – Den Woulou Lalou
Tags: blues, mali, usa
Matt, I’ll be @ Cabaret Sauvage on the 15th for Konono+Kasai+Staff…
You now get my email through the comment…
Was already there for Orch. Baobab (July 2nd).
Sincerely
DJM
BTW, you probably already know, or have heard of, him, but in any case you should check my good friend’s Djeli Moussa Diawara (aka Jali Musa Jawara) MySpace page and his blog too…
http://www.myspace.com/djelimoussadiawara
http://www.djelimoussadiawara.com/
We’re working on his 7th release. He’s a real virtuoso with his unique 32-stringed Kora, being a singer and composer too, also known for his work as part of Kora Jazz Trio he founded.
BTW, we’re thinking of rereleasing his 1st LP “Yasimika”, recorded in Abidjan in 1982/83 which was acclaimed at the time. If you can listen to it, check the 4 tracks, and specifically Yekeke… should sound “familiar” but remember the year of release…
BTW2, he’s Mory Kante’s half-brother, sharing the same mother.
Sincerely
DJM
Missed the first , but both september gigs will be probably on top of my list. Also to link with the previous thread(s), I already saw konono once 2 years ago in some garden, it was just great. Last saturday, Toumast did a very nice show. This happened at the yearly “festival musique & jardins”, which always has great events and is still widely unknown, allowing very nice time for the audience (despite its parisian apathy).
Back to this port, some other Corey Harris work quite linked with this one is reviewed here:
http://blackstarliners.blogspot.com/2009/01/music-has-dominated-corey-harriss-life.html
Cheers,
David