Review
Ali Farka Toure & Toumani : Ali and Toumani
5.6
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UK release date 22.02.2010
Ahead of Toumani Diabate’s special series of concerts in May 2010 showcasing his interpretations of the work of his musical guru Ali Farka Toure, fans are treated to what was the final recording of these African music giants - ‘Ali and Toumani’.
The album was recorded in three afternoons at the Livingston Studios, London in 2005 during Toure’s European concert tour following the release of Grammy award winning ‘In the Heart of the moon’.
The delicate rhythmic tones of the opening track Ruby truly set the scene for this epic tour de force so emblematic of the duo. The interwoven intensity of Toure’s riffs and intimate interjections of Toumani’s kora throughout the album, render the listener in an almost voyeuristic state.
The Cuban Salsa influences of the late bassist Orlando ‘Cachaito’ Lopez, of Buena Vista Social Club critical acclaim, is distinctively infused in later tracks such as Sabu Yerkoy, Samiba Geladio and Kala Djula. Whilst Warbè and 56 showcases why the Malian blues guitarist Toure has so often been described as ‘the African John Lee Hooker’ – it is the very essence of the blues spanning from the Niger to the Mississippi Delta.
For Diabate, the album is ‘stronger and wiser, better than ‘In the Heart’. Although for me, ‘In the Heart of the Moon’ remains a beautifully raw and diverse testament of Toure and Diabate’s collaboration.
‘Ali and Tourmani’ is the seminal meeting of musical greats and the exquisite marriage of varying genres spanning continents and generations. Superbly brought together by the production of Nick Gold and skilfully recorded by the Jerry Boys.
Ali Farka Toure sadly lost his battle with bone cancer in 2006, but his far reaching influence will forever remain. In the words of the late Malian bluesman, '' I got to know music and to love it through so many heroes who passed on and who continue to live on the earth, because history remains. So it gave me the opportunity to get to know the culture of this music, its biography, legends and history.''
Words THUTO MALI
