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 Ali Farka Touré
Savane (World Circuit/Nonesuch Records, 2006)
With his death at 67 in March of 2006, Ali Farka Touré left behind more than a mourning country, family and worldwide audience, he left one last solo recording and that is the recent release of Savane. Dubbed the "king of the desert blues singers," Touré was indeed the guitar and vocal master of his Malian/blues mix and Savane is that final proof. The CD is raw and edgy with enough poignant sorrow and African hope to make the very earth weep at Touré's passing.
Accompanied by Mama Sissoko and Bassekou Kouyate on ngoni, the traditional lute
of West Africa, Fanga Diawara on njarka violin, Little George Sueref on
harmonica, Pee Wee Ellis on tenor sax, Yves Wernert on bass and Fain Dueñas on
percussion, Touré opens the CD with "Erdi." With Touré's deep vocals and wicked
guitar, this low-slung blues number makes one wonder if somewhere they're
missing a Mississippi juke joint. The CD just gets better and better with "Yer
Bounda Fara" and Touré's vocals sung the Sonraï language. It's pure Africa
wrapped in blues blanket.
"Beto" swings with Touré's guitar, Sissoko and Kouyate
on ngoni, Ellis with some sweet tenor sax, Ramata Diakite's backing vocals,
Souleye Kané on calabash, Oumar Touré on congas and Dueñas on percussion.
Propelled by guitar riff and surrounded by the lacy work of two ngoni, title
track "Savane" is possessed by Touré mournful lyrics and a spoken section. Every
track on Savane is just spectacular, some stand out pieces include "Penda Yoro,"
"Ledi Coumbe" and "Soko Yhinka," but a CD so packed with gems it would be
impossible pick a favorite.
Touré might have adopted the blues genre but he made it his own with a deep,
abiding spiritual connection with Mali and Africa, incorporating traditional
storytelling and reflective take on his country's past and future. Blues so
heart wrenchingly executed, flawlessly placed in a man's life and effortlessly
played must surely mean that
Ali
Farka Touré sprung up from the earth he walked on or fell from the sky, the
big African sky. Savane can only mean that the man and musician will greatly
missed.
Buy the CD:
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