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
The 
I’m not too tired tonight.. might stay up late. Slept well after days in the sun in Marseille last weekend.
Today we break from our Original Music series while I’m away with a guest post from first time Benn loxo contributor, Gerben:
I’ve been scanning hundreds of albums for the last 30 minutes desperately trying to remember the name of a 1960s American rock band. It’s on the tip of my tongue.. I can hear the song.. I can even see the song- an awkward, mid-1960s southern American singer with a high-pitched voice. It’s just not coming to me.
This past Saturday I went to see Tinariwen at the Bataclan in Paris.
From the good people over at
James Brown died today. He was 73.
Hey Jozef, thanks for your comment on the last post. You woke me up. It’s been a while since I last wrote – sorry, people. I’ve been busy sorting out a move, working, traveling and fighting back the cold, Parisian rain. If any of you live up around Canal Saint Martin I’m your new neighbour. And hey, if you live in Amsterdam keep an eye out for me this weekend.