Ali Farka Toure: Savane (World Circuit/Elite)

 |   |  <1 min read

Ali Farka Toure: Savane
Ali Farka Toure: Savane (World Circuit/Elite)

The late Toure was one of the greatest singer-songwriters to emerge out of the musically fertile region around Mali in the last century.

The area -- from which numerous slaves were taken to the United States -- was the crucible for music which, after the Middle Passage, became the blues. Much of Toure's music invited comparisons with John Lee Hooker (his commanding, dark vocals, his stinging guitar work) although in recent years critics also his earthy style in the likes of R.L. Burnside and artists on the Fat Possum label.

Outside of world music circles he came to greater attention for two superb albums: Talking Timbuktu with Ry Cooder (1994), and In the Heart of the Moon last year with Toumani Diabate (see tag).

This album finds him at his most bluesy (there is a harmonica player on some tracks) and also has Pee Wee Ellis (longtime saxophonist with James Brown's bands).

It's African, it's the blues, and it is also a great testament to a man whose music bridged the divide of the Middle Passage.

Share It

Your Comments

post a comment

More from this section   World Music from Elsewhere articles index

Utsav Lal: Indian Classical Music on the Piano (digital outlets)

Utsav Lal: Indian Classical Music on the Piano (digital outlets)

Elsewhere will occasionally preface or conclude comments on albums with something like “not for everybody”. The implication is that the music is of some specialised nature, but the hope... > Read more

Bapi Das Baul: Sufi Baul; Madness and Happiness (Arc)

Bapi Das Baul: Sufi Baul; Madness and Happiness (Arc)

Perhaps the only Sufi musician many are familiar with is the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, but his uplifting, sky-scaling vocals and the joyous spiritual elevation of his music might recommend this... > Read more

Elsewhere at Elsewhere

Durutti Column: Idiot Savants (Artful)

Durutti Column: Idiot Savants (Artful)

To be honest, I thought they wuz dead! It has probably not been since the early 90s that I last heard of, let alone heard, Durutti Column. I just assumed that mainman/guitarist Vini Reilly had... > Read more

Charles Mingus: The Lost Album from Ronnie Scott's (Resonance/digital outlets)

Charles Mingus: The Lost Album from Ronnie Scott's (Resonance/digital outlets)

When the great bassist/composer Charles Mingus performed at Ronnie Scott's club in London in 1972, his career was in limbo. He was hugely respected but his studio sessions had dried up after the... > Read more