DOWNLOAD: Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni ba - Musow (MP3)

Malian musician Bassekou Kouyate is a master of the ngoni, a small stringed instrument that's something of a cross between a lute, a mandolin and a banjo....[in March] he brought his band and their joyous sound to Troy in support of his new album, "I Speak Fula," and it was heavenly. In addition to Kouyate, the band featured his wife Amy Sacko on vocals, two percussionists and three other musicians playing ngonis of varying sizes.

The lyrics were in a foreign language, but there was nothing foreign about the almighty groove that the band laid down. With microphone pick-ups attached to their instruments with electrical tape, the band simply rocked the house.

One song sounded like a second cousin to Appalachian mountain bluegrass. Still another was spiced with Spanish flamenco and Middle Eastern motifs. But mostly, the 100-minute performance was steeped in the blues. African blues, to be sure, but also obviously related to the blues of Taj Mahal, B.B. King and even Jimi Hendrix. And when Kouyate leaned in to use his wah-wah footpedal, it was easy to draw a direct line from his Malian blues to the Grateful Dead. [Nippertown]

Bassekou Kouyate & (his band) Ngoni ba visited NYC & North America for shows in March (here they played Carnegie Hall). They'll be back for more shows this summer. Those include a free Central Park Summerstage show on Sunday, July 25th with L.A. Afropop-influenced Fool's Gold.

Kouyate's, I Speak Fula, which you can get a track from above, came out in late 2009 and was the first release on Sub Pop's Next Ambiance imprint...

Founded by Jon Kertzer, the host of KEXP's "The Best Ambiance" radio show, a long-running weekly program that focuses on both pop and traditional music from the African continent, Next Ambiance continues the musical exploration, with an emphasis on mind-blowing and life-changing artists with no particular regional or cultural bias.

"I've listened and learned so much from Jon's show ("The Best Ambiance") for half of my life. It just seemed natural to put his knowledge, resources and remarkable taste to further use. It'll certainly be a boon to listeners everywhere," commented Sub Pop Records co-founder, Jonathan Poneman. "Our first release with Bassekou Kouyate and his incredible band Ngoni ba from Mali in West Africa, is the perfect way to begin this new adventure. Their album I Speak Fula captures this truly original music, like nothing you have heard before."

Other upcoming shows include free gigs in L.A. and Chicago. Videos and all tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni ba - 2010 Tour Dates (Central Park Summerstage), album on Sub Pop's Next Ambiance (MP3)"

by Andrew Frisicano

Tinariwen @ (Le) Poisson Rouge in April (more by Tim Griffin)

Malian band Tinariwen recently won the 2009 Uncut Music Award for best album (given by Uncut Mag) for their record Imidiwan:Companions. The 11 member jury, which included Billy Bragg and Fleet Foxes' Robin Pecknold, voted the album the "most inspiring and rewarding" of the past 12 months over the seven other entries including Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear and Dirty Projectors. For a better idea of the sizable competition, the shortlist of nominees is below.

Tinariwen, who made a good impression at Coachella and played NYC's LPR both in April, will be coming to North American this February. The trip includes a pair of NYC shows: they return to Highline Ballroom on February 18th and then play a rare Brooklyn show (their first?) at The Bell House on February 19th. Ticket info TBA.

Also coming to the Highline in 2010 will be Malian singer-songwriter Rokia Traore for a show on Saturday, April 17th, as part of the World Music Institute Presents: Songs of Mali series. Tickets are on sale. World Music Institute will also bring Nigarian juju legend King Sunny Ade to the Highline Ballroom on April 9th. Tickets are on sale.

For Rokia, the Highline show is somewhat of a makeup show after her Summer 2009 tour was cancelled.

On Friday, March 26th another Music of Mali show will happen with Bassekou Kouyate (who play the ngoni, a West African lute) at Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall. That'll be the New York debut of his band and Mali's "first ngoni quartet," Ngoni ba. Tickets are on sale now.

Videos of all four with the Uncut shortlist and all tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Tinariwen win an award, announce tour dates ++ upcoming King Sunny Ade, Rokia Traore & Bassekou Kouyate shows too"