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| Putumayo World Music Presents: Mali |
“A lot of people believe Mali will be the next Cuba,” says Putumayo VP of A&R
Jacob Edgar, reflecting on the potential of Mali’s music to crossover to a wider
audience. “The music is otherworldly and familiar at the same time, and the artists
have really interesting stories.”
One of the most striking things about the new Putumayo CD Mali is the diversity
of artists represented. Ramatou Diakité comes from the fields of the bluesy
Wassoulou region of southern Mali. Tinariwen is a Kel Temeshek or Tuareg band,
whose trancey Sahara desert blues served as the musical soundtrack to a fierce
fight against discrimination, passed via cassette from camel to 4x4 to taxi across
the region. Though Habib Koité—the only artist featured on the album that comes
from a griot family—originates from the Bambara tribe, he is known for integrating
a diversity of Malian styles into his repertoire. Habib is signed to Putumayo and
has released two successful albums, Ma Ya and Baro on the label. A live track
and an enhancement featuring a live concert performance by Habib are highlights
of the Mali collection.
“Another great Malian musician seems to come along every year,” Edgar points
out. “Sure, there are the big names like Salif Keïta, Ali Farka Toure, and Oumou
Sangare, but Mali always offers up something new. Issa Bagayogo emerged with
his subtle mix of electronics and traditional Malian music, and was a revelation for
American audiences.” This is the first time Bagayogo’s “Bana” will be released in
America. Mali also features Mamou Sidibé, who worked with the same producers
as Bagayogo to create a beguiling blend of tradition and technology.
Moussa Diallo was raised by his Danish mother and Malian father in Bamako, but
moved to Denmark at age 19. He’s spent the past 30 years performing there and
has developed workshops and books to help Danish children learn about Malian
culture. Tom Diakité left Mali to join the National Folklore Ensemble of the Ivory
Coast. Eventually, Diakité settled in France where he has worked with everyone
from the Gipsy Kings to Mory Kanté. Diakité teamed up with British guitarist Sam
Mills and percussionist Djanuno Dabo from Guinea-Bissau to form the band Tama.
“Fala”—released here for the first time—is the title track of his forthcoming solo
album.
The Mali album also features legends that didn’t gain recognition until later in life.
Idrissa Soumaoro didn’t record his first album until age 55. When he was young,
Soumaoro played in Les Ambassadeurs alongside legends Salif Keïta and Kante
Manfila. But when a hit song he wrote was pirated across Africa, he became
discouraged and gave up his musical career, becoming an instructor at Mali’s
National Institute for the Blind. While there, he met and trained Amadou and
Mariam—young rising stars in Malian music whose recent albums earned critical
acclaim in Europe and America.
Often seen on stage with Habib Koité, Kélétigui Diabaté is a legendary figure in
Malian music and one of the foremost balafón (xylophone) players in Africa. A
founding member of the first national orchestras of both Mali and Guinea, Diabaté
is also an excellent craftsman, making his own balafóns by hand. At 70, he
recorded the track “Koulandian” for his long-awaited first solo album.
Boubacar Traoré was once heard daily on national radio in Mali, but disappeared
into obscurity after his wife passed away. It is only in recent years that he has
returned to his music career. “Kanou”—another track making its American debut
on Mali—was inspired by the Bollywood films that Traoré and many Africans grew
up watching. The song also features a first-time collaboration with Malagasy
accordionist Régis Gizavo.
“Mali is one of those places that—like Cuba, South Africa, and Brazil—is an
epicenter of extraordinary music,” Edgar continues. “It is a cultural crossroads
that has taken elements of West African, Berber, bluesy music of the Bambara
region, and Western contemporary music, and blended them to create something
that’s incredible.”
Mali features a Malian recipe for Tiguadégé Na (meat in peanut sauce) and colorful
photos from the Lonely Planet book series.
Jacob Edgar, reflecting on the potential of Mali’s music to crossover to a wider
audience. “The music is otherworldly and familiar at the same time, and the artists
have really interesting stories.”
One of the most striking things about the new Putumayo CD Mali is the diversity
of artists represented. Ramatou Diakité comes from the fields of the bluesy
Wassoulou region of southern Mali. Tinariwen is a Kel Temeshek or Tuareg band,
whose trancey Sahara desert blues served as the musical soundtrack to a fierce
fight against discrimination, passed via cassette from camel to 4x4 to taxi across
the region. Though Habib Koité—the only artist featured on the album that comes
from a griot family—originates from the Bambara tribe, he is known for integrating
a diversity of Malian styles into his repertoire. Habib is signed to Putumayo and
has released two successful albums, Ma Ya and Baro on the label. A live track
and an enhancement featuring a live concert performance by Habib are highlights
of the Mali collection.
“Another great Malian musician seems to come along every year,” Edgar points
out. “Sure, there are the big names like Salif Keïta, Ali Farka Toure, and Oumou
Sangare, but Mali always offers up something new. Issa Bagayogo emerged with
his subtle mix of electronics and traditional Malian music, and was a revelation for
American audiences.” This is the first time Bagayogo’s “Bana” will be released in
America. Mali also features Mamou Sidibé, who worked with the same producers
as Bagayogo to create a beguiling blend of tradition and technology.
Moussa Diallo was raised by his Danish mother and Malian father in Bamako, but
moved to Denmark at age 19. He’s spent the past 30 years performing there and
has developed workshops and books to help Danish children learn about Malian
culture. Tom Diakité left Mali to join the National Folklore Ensemble of the Ivory
Coast. Eventually, Diakité settled in France where he has worked with everyone
from the Gipsy Kings to Mory Kanté. Diakité teamed up with British guitarist Sam
Mills and percussionist Djanuno Dabo from Guinea-Bissau to form the band Tama.
“Fala”—released here for the first time—is the title track of his forthcoming solo
album.
The Mali album also features legends that didn’t gain recognition until later in life.
Idrissa Soumaoro didn’t record his first album until age 55. When he was young,
Soumaoro played in Les Ambassadeurs alongside legends Salif Keïta and Kante
Manfila. But when a hit song he wrote was pirated across Africa, he became
discouraged and gave up his musical career, becoming an instructor at Mali’s
National Institute for the Blind. While there, he met and trained Amadou and
Mariam—young rising stars in Malian music whose recent albums earned critical
acclaim in Europe and America.
Often seen on stage with Habib Koité, Kélétigui Diabaté is a legendary figure in
Malian music and one of the foremost balafón (xylophone) players in Africa. A
founding member of the first national orchestras of both Mali and Guinea, Diabaté
is also an excellent craftsman, making his own balafóns by hand. At 70, he
recorded the track “Koulandian” for his long-awaited first solo album.
Boubacar Traoré was once heard daily on national radio in Mali, but disappeared
into obscurity after his wife passed away. It is only in recent years that he has
returned to his music career. “Kanou”—another track making its American debut
on Mali—was inspired by the Bollywood films that Traoré and many Africans grew
up watching. The song also features a first-time collaboration with Malagasy
accordionist Régis Gizavo.
“Mali is one of those places that—like Cuba, South Africa, and Brazil—is an
epicenter of extraordinary music,” Edgar continues. “It is a cultural crossroads
that has taken elements of West African, Berber, bluesy music of the Bambara
region, and Western contemporary music, and blended them to create something
that’s incredible.”
Mali features a Malian recipe for Tiguadégé Na (meat in peanut sauce) and colorful
photos from the Lonely Planet book series.