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April 7 - 14, 2000

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*** Mamadou Diabate

TUNGA

(Alula)

This debut from a young Malian now living in the US puts all kora players on notice with its vitality, scope, and shimmering musicianship. Diabaté is a cousin of Toumani Diabaté, perhaps the best living kora player, and they share the distinguished pedigree of griots, praise musicians, and cultural guardians. Mamadou pays homage to his famous cousin's lyricism and technical virtuosity, but he also stakes out ground of his own.

The opening "Dagna" is a funky instrumental romp enriched by prickly melodies from the banjo-like ngoni, played by another young Malian ex-patriot Fuseini Kouyaté, as well as by djembe drum and rock-solid acoustic bass from American jazzman Ira Coleman. Instrumental music is the focus, most of it ensemble work, though the powerful "Soutoukou" is a solo track in the restless, racing style of the Gambia. Malian kora tends to be more serene, and Diabaté exploits that in his version of the classic "Djanjo" and on the promising original composition "Tunga." He touches on the heralded Malian connection with the blues, marrying the Manding standard "Massane Cisse" with a Chicago vamp. Better still is his foray into pentatonic Bambara music, which is not usually the province of the kora. Two tracks include soaring griot vocals from Abdoulaye Diabaté, another young Malian to watch.

-- Banning Eyre
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