Mali Blue

Amazon.com
Mali Blue is a godsend for the budget-conscious world music fans out there, collecting 14 tracks from Lobi Traore's four out-of-print or import albums released between 1991 and 1998. As is the case with his mentor Ali Farka Toure (who produces and appears on several tracks), Traore fuses warm conversational singing and hypnotic blues guitar to the traditional Bambara sounds of djembi, tamani and n'goni. The connection between the two cultures is particularly potent on the songs featuring harmonica player Vincent Butcher, whose strong grasp of the blues lexicon expands the dynamic reach of these riff-oriented tunes. Nonetheless, even without the harmonica, Traore does excellent job on his own, moving from stripped down guitar and voice ("Warani") to electric blues ("Ni Tougou La Mogo Miko") to more Africanized sounds ("Sadiourou"), leaving listeners with a well-rounded sense of who this singer/guitarist is. Truly a fine introduction (or reintroduction) to an artist deserving wider recognition. --Tad Hendrickson

Mali Blue,Lobi Traoré,World Village,African,Afro-Pop,Int'l & World Music,Pop

Average customer rating: An african jem !

Ni Kanu Kante Manfila Manufacturer: Blue Note Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Africa | International | Styles | Music Guinea | Africa | International | Styles | Music Mali | Africa | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music Blue Note Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music General | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music Africa | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Paya-Paya ASIN: B000005H0F Release Date: 1995-08-01

Tracks:

1. Ni Kanu
2. Fenko
3. Akadi
4. Koufenko
5. Akassa
6. Djanfa
7. L'Unite
8. Foya
9. Denko
10. N'Tesse
11. Diniya

Album Details

The Great Guinean Guitarist/Composer of Les Ambassadeurs Fame. West African Music at Its Best: Spine-tingling Vocals, Choral Singing, Sinuous Guitar, Brass and Percussion.

Customer Reviews:

An african jem !.......1998-06-08

A real pleasure to listen,one of my favorite african cd,combines western elements with rich traditional african influence. a good start for first time expireance with african music.

Average customer rating: Do not go by any reviews Just OK Unevenly great I have to buy more! Go to Mali for the best beats

Papa Salif Keita Manufacturer: Blue Note Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Africa | International | Styles | Music Mali | Africa | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music Blue Note Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music General | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music Africa | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Folon Moffou The Mansa of Mali...A Retrospective M'Bemba Amen ASIN: B00000JC9J Release Date: 1999-07-13

Tracks:

1. Bolon
2. Mama
3. Ananamin (It's Been So Long)
4. Sada
5. Tolon Wilile (The Party Is On)
6. Tomorrow (Sadio)
7. Abede
8. Papa
9. Together (Gnokon Fe)

Amazon.com

Mali's Salif Keita might possess one of Africa's great voices, but in the past there have been times when his material hasn't done him real justice. That's not the case here--Papa is as close to brilliance as he's likely to get, with enough of a real roots feel to bring out his emotive qualities. For once, the Western studio overlays (done in New York and Paris) don't overwhelm everything else. In fact, the only time they really intrude is when coproducer Vernon Reid (ex-Living Colour) takes a wild guitar solo at the end of the record, and that's an ideal fit. The title track is Keita at his very best, as his voice cracks and soars. This time he's hit it perfectly. --Chris Nickson

Album Details

New 1999 Release from Legendary African Vocalist, his First in Four Years. Guests Include John Medeski, Grace Jones and Vernon Reid.

Customer Reviews:

Do not go by any reviews.......2004-01-26

Just go out and buy it! It's heart pumping, world beat thumping music. It can't possibly disappoint anyone with a working aorta and/or other valve! "It's got a dance beat, you can't lose it, whatever way you choose it!! Refined in the fire World Beat disc. Just put it on and play it and tell me I'm wrong!! This is a monster disc!@!
BEK

Just OK.......2002-06-14

Salif Keita is one of the most prolific and gifted West African musicians out there...bar none. However, I think this album does him a little injustice. The soulful lament is still there but the seeming traditional musical element has been replaced by an overwhelming westernized production feel. When I listen to this album I don't get THAT feeling that endeared me to the FOLON disc.

Unevenly great.......2000-03-15

THis is definitely one of Mr. Keita's better works. In fact, it may be exceeded only by his last album, Folon. There are a couple of jams here and "Papa" the title track is stirring. There are just a couple places where things get bland. But overall, it is Salif at his dramatic best.

I have to buy more!.......2000-01-23

Heard this playing in a Unicef gift shop and had to have it. Got it home and have listened to it straight for 3 days now. Interesting to read other reviews, seeing those that say this is his worst, others saying it is his best. All I know is I am very excited to have discovered this artist, as his music and lyrics stir my heart. I enjoy the photographs in the CD jacket very much and hearing Grace Jones' voice blended into the songs was a surprise and a delight.

Go to Mali for the best beats.......1999-11-28

The latest album by Salif Keita, one of the great singers of Mali, is a revelation - particularly to me. Previously I had read of his stature in West Africa (see the Rough Guide to World Music), but hadn't caught up with the music itself. This album demonstrates that the best beats in the world come from Mali. I defy anyone listening to this disk to keep their feet from tapping, and their hips from twisting for longer than a few seconds. But the groove is not all there is on this immaculate album that hasn't been out of my player for days now. There are delicate instrumental arrangements from, among others, Toumani Diabate; enough western influence to keep most blues or rock fans happy (check out the wild guitar solo on the final track); and real sensitivity on the title track, written in memory of his father. All that and Grace Jones, too. If you like any African blues-influenced music you'll love this. Even if you don't, do yourself a favour and listen to this wonderous record.

Average customer rating: XLNT! Vital, exciting

Electric & Acoustic Mali Various Artists Manufacturer: Blue Note Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Africa | International | Styles | Music Mali | Africa | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music Africa | Compilations | International | Styles | Music Blue Note Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music General | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music Africa | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music ASIN: B000005GWL Release Date: 1997-02-03

Tracks:

1. Ka Souma Man - Sekouba Bambino Diabate
2. Konifale - Kadja Tangara
3. Tchana Diani - Lobi Traore
4. Ouere Hana - Dounanke Koita
5. Faso - Bougouniere Diarrah Sanogo
6. Sabali - Les Sceurs Sidibe
7. Fengue - Issa Bagayogo
8. Liberia - Djeneba Diakite
9. Sinsinbo - Dounanke Koita
10. Kulunba - Kagbe Sidibe
11. Diarabi - Wassolon Fenin
12. Hampate Ba - Ami Koita
13. N'Na Djanssama - Kerfala Kante

Amazon.com

Living up to its title, this 13-track compilation showcases how Malians are masters of assimilating new ideas and sounds into their own culture. At the crossroads of many ancient trading routes, Mali has always reflected diversity in its music, and Western instrumentation is just the latest addition to the culture. Male and female artists perform acoustically and electrically in various styles like bambara de segou, wassoulou, and n'goni, and the blues is never far away. Whether it is the electric guitar style of Lobi Traore or the country blues equivalent of Issa Bagayoyo's "Fengue," the comparisons to American blues are obvious, and all the singers, placed in a Memphis Soul setting, would show how much of our pop culture is indebted to Malian traditions. This, however, is the roots real deal, alive and flourishing, and as soulful in its own right as anything on the planet. --Derek Rath

Album Details

Mali is Home to Some of the Greatest and Most Dynamic Music in all Africa, and Here is a Sampling of Many of Its Best Artists Performing in a Wide Variety of Styles. From Traditional Performance to Modern Fusions, Both Acoustic and Electric, Here Ismusic from the Creative Cauldron of Africa.

Customer Reviews:

XLNT!.......2004-07-27

I love Hemisphere Records because they do such a great job of picking tracks. I have three of their compilations, and there is not a dud on any of them. But this is my favorite. Not only is there a nice variety of music, from the intensely rhythmic (''Sisinbo'') to the pensive (''Liberia'') to the minimalist (''Ouere Hana''), you can discern how African music influenced American music, and how the Africans have in turn borrowed from us with their own unique twist. The songs are all interesting, and they all bear repeated playing. This is a great introduction to African music, well worth the price. Great job, Hemisphere!

Vital, exciting.......2002-11-21

The editorial review stresses how this music is not far from American blues. This is unnecessary. Since blues was created by Africans who were brought by force to America, why would it surprise anyone that they kept some of the sounds of their African traditions ?
The Malians musicians on this CD do not try to sound American. They try to create within Malian tradition, using either modern or traditional instruments. I love most of the songs, and most of the artists. Ami Koita and Kagbe Sidibe are my favorites, but the others are great too.
the music is happenning, it is energetic, rhythmic, and full of life. I saw that even people who have no special interst in African music are attracted to these sounds, so I recommend it to everyone !

Average customer rating:

Mali Blue Lobi Traoré Manufacturer: World Village ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Africa | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music International | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Amassakoul Dimanche a Bamako In the Heart of the Moon Lobi Traoré Group Radio Tisdas Sessions ASIN: B0006ZOUTG Release Date: 2005-01-11

Tracks:

1. Warani
2. Sadiourou
3. Nama Da Yele
4. Dunya
5. A Magni
6. Moryene Kalan
7. Ni Tougou La Mogo Miko
8. Wolodennu
9. Tiekoroba
10. Tjounde
11. Maya Ye Sanka Ye
12. Fatouma Be
13. Anun Ka Ben
14. Ni Tougou La Mogo Miko (Live)

Amazon.com

Mali Blue is a godsend for the budget-conscious world music fans out there, collecting 14 tracks from Lobi Traore's four out-of-print or import albums released between 1991 and 1998. As is the case with his mentor Ali Farka Toure (who produces and appears on several tracks), Traore fuses warm conversational singing and hypnotic blues guitar to the traditional Bambara sounds of djembi, tamani and n'goni. The connection between the two cultures is particularly potent on the songs featuring harmonica player Vincent Butcher, whose strong grasp of the blues lexicon expands the dynamic reach of these riff-oriented tunes. Nonetheless, even without the harmonica, Traore does excellent job on his own, moving from stripped down guitar and voice ("Warani") to electric blues ("Ni Tougou La Mogo Miko") to more Africanized sounds ("Sadiourou"), leaving listeners with a well-rounded sense of who this singer/guitarist is. Truly a fine introduction (or reintroduction) to an artist deserving wider recognition. --Tad Hendrickson

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Rock Music

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