Macire

Amazon.com
Like the late Congolese rumba impresario Franco, Boubacar "Kar Kar" Traoré is a legendary artist whose music has been tough to find in the U.S. At home, when Traoré performed on Radio Mali in 1988 after a long hiatus, listeners who assumed he'd been dead for years feared a hoax. Here in his 50s, Traoré flexes his mastery of the acoustic guitar and blues-inflected vocals on his first readily available release in decades. Kar Kar's deeply soulful songs invite comparison with fellow Malian Ali Farka Toure. But if the gritty Ali Farka evokes John Lee Hooker, Kar Kar with his chiming guitar lines and smoke-tinged voice is closer to Mississippi John Hurt. The gracefully mournful "Les Enfants de Pierrette" is a tribute to his late wife, while on "Bebe Bo Nadero," a celebration of motherhood, he trades licks with pop star Habib Koite, the disc's artistic producer. Spanish guitar ripples through the meditative "Courir un Homme Qui Vous Aime," but Kar Kar can also pull off a jump-up number like the bouncy, unbridled "Kar Kar Madison," which reclaims a 1960s Malian dance craze. The give and take between African and African American genres is centuries old, but the tug of war seldom achieves a more satisfying equilibrium. --Bob Tarte.

Tracks:

Duna Ma Yelema
Baba Drame
Las Enfants de Pierrette
Samba
Bebe Bo Nadero
Tunga Magni
Courir Un Homme Qui Vous Aime
Macire
Serrer La Main
Kalilou
Solo de Kar Kar
Kar Kar Madison

Amazon.com

Like the late Congolese rumba impresario Franco, Boubacar "Kar Kar" Traoré is a legendary artist whose music has been tough to find in the U.S. At home, when Traoré performed on Radio Mali in 1988 after a long hiatus, listeners who assumed he'd been dead for years feared a hoax. Here in his 50s, Traoré flexes his mastery of the acoustic guitar and blues-inflected vocals on his first readily available release in decades. Kar Kar's deeply soulful songs invite comparison with fellow Malian Ali Farka Toure. But if the gritty Ali Farka evokes John Lee Hooker, Kar Kar with his chiming guitar lines and smoke-tinged voice is closer to Mississippi John Hurt. The gracefully mournful "Les Enfants de Pierrette" is a tribute to his late wife, while on "Bebe Bo Nadero," a celebration of motherhood, he trades licks with pop star Habib Koite, the disc's artistic producer. Spanish guitar ripples through the meditative "Courir un Homme Qui Vous Aime," but Kar Kar can also pull off a jump-up number like the bouncy, unbridled "Kar Kar Madison," which reclaims a 1960s Malian dance craze. The give and take between African and African American genres is centuries old, but the tug of war seldom achieves a more satisfying equilibrium. --Bob Tarte.

Customer Reviews:

Incredible.......2005-08-03

If you like intersted earthy music you should buy this, every track will grow into your soul the more you listen to it

Music for all ages.......2002-06-10

Some of the finest music ever recorded. This incredible collaboration with Habib Koite is a treasure. My fellow reviewers have already spelled why quite eloquently. All I can say is, if you like guitar, you will love this album. Note to parents: My 2 year old has actually come to me and sighed, "Mommy, I need Boubacar please."

HIS SOUL THROUGH HIS VOICE.......2001-09-13

This is one of the most moving albums of African music -- or of any genre -- I've ever experienced. Kar Kar's voice is so deep and soulful as he pours himself into these songs. They deal with life, love, death, loss and hardship -- and more. Accompanied by Habib Koite and his incredible band Bamada (see his fine recent release BARO), the arrangements are kept relatively simple, but they are so very beautiful and effective. The acoustic guitar work on all of the tracks is exquisite -- Keletigui Diabate's work on balafon and violin is also memorable. All of this is gifted to the listener through a crystal-clear recording.

The package is attractively designed as well -- as I have come to expect from the French company Label Bleu. Even without full translations, the feeling and soul of these songs comes across very clearly.

The music on this album can be universally appreciated -- by afficianados of world music as well as by those who would like to expand their musical horizons.

Nothing fancy here............2001-08-20

....just beautifully crafted blues. Some poet started a brief ode with "Watch what can be done with a little". Well in this case listen to what can be done with a little. A very spiritual, polished disc. Highly recommended.

Deeper than Your Soul.......2000-12-07

Boubacar Traore has taken my understanding of the blues, and to music in general, to a higher level. Together with Habib Koite, another Malian pioneer, this album is about as tight as I've ever heard. The recording is sharp, the solos and vocals hold nothing back, and it can be played for all occasions. The overall tone of the album is subdued and patient. It bounces you along slowly into a soundscape entirely Traore's. Every instrument is masterfully played, but again, I've gotta stress the vocals. Koite and Traore have incredible voices, friendly yet impassioned and colorful. This album is also an entirely different style than Ali Farka Toure - don't rank either artist over the other - it's basically futile to compare them except to say that Traore's work has a bit more of a beat. Both Toure and Traore have worked at Radio Mali and both artists are accepted as blues Masters in their home country. Macire has become my soundtrack for the world. Try it with headphones.

Average customer rating:

Incredible traditional music

Mariama
Macire Sylla
Manufacturer: Misslin
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Africa | International | Styles | Music

Guinea | Africa | International | Styles | Music

General | International | Styles | Music

General | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000005SU4
Release Date: 1997-04-22

Tracks:

Foto Io
Na Mari
Kndo
Bora
Saboui
Soko
Ia
Di Langara
Guinar

Customer Reviews:

Incredible traditional music.......1999-04-25

This awesome CD features some of the most popular traditional music of my youth. Djembe fare has produced a classic this time around.Na mari, kebando, di langara are all time classics. Get this and never look back again