Venue:
City Recital Hall, Sydney
Date: 03/03/2015
An amazing performance, and for me (as a total ignoramus about African music), a complete eye-opener. Father and son duo both playing the kora (Google it), an African stringed instrument. Both total virtuosi. The music was remarkably “Western” sounding to my ears – diatonic major or Lydian scales, straight 8 grooves, but totally engaging, wonderful rhythmic playfulness, and a beautiful sound. My son (aged 22) suggested we go to this, otherwise I would not have even known it was on.
In an odd footnote, they brought on a couple of guests, including an Australian woman who has been studying African music – turned out she was the daughter of our family GP from a decade ago.
The audience:
Hated them. Clapped every time the performers said anything. Obviously there were folks from Mali in the audience, and great that they yelled out etc. Mali has been overrun by Muslim extremists in recent years, and the performers mentioned tis, not in so many words. I’m trying not to be cynical here but I can’t help suspecting the mainly white audience had their moment of pleasure. OK, I am being cynical. But really, just let the performers get on with it.
It made me think..
About the stuff above.
And about my own lack of knowledge about African music.
Made me feel very humble, small, and like I’d just had a very special experience
duco01 says
Kaisfatdad is pretty chummy with Toumani Diabate. He’s met him a couple of times backstage, and even bumped into him in the street once, a few hours after a gig in Stockholm.
Great man! Toumani, that is – not Kaisfatdad. Actually, come to think of it, Kaisfatdad is pretty great, too.
Kaisfatdad says
You are too kind! I don’t feel I deserve to inhabit the same sentence as the great man.
I did indeed run into Toumani outside the hotel where he was staying. He was extremely charming and un-diva-like. One of my big idols!
Junior Wells says
Nice one Mousey. The kora which is much like a harp is incredibly soothing. Seek out heart of the moon and given your keyboard bent a record by Foday Musa Suso playing with Herbie Hancock. Village life. I think it is. Only got on vinyl.
I will be seeing the Diabates at Womad. Are you going ?
Vulpes Vulpes says
Ooooh, I might have that too – will check shelves when home – could be a good candidate for a vinyl rip.
Vulpes Vulpes says
Found it. Fancy a CD copy if I rip the vinyl?
Junior Wells says
Vinyl copies go for a pretty penny last time I looked
duco01 says
For all you fans of solo kora music out there, there’s a recently released album from the Diabate clan that I can highly recommend. It didn’t receive a great deal of publicity, but it’s really good.
It’s “Live in India at the Amarrass Desert Music Festival” by Madou Sidiki Diabate. Madou is the younger brother of Toumani Diabate, and thus the uncle of Sidiki Diabate.
I’m afraid I don’t know how to post a picture of it, but I’m sure you can find it at your favourite online retailers or Spotify or something. Anyway, it’s quality stuff.
Peanuts Molloy says
Another nice album is Songhai which features Ketama, Toumani Diabate and Danny Thompson. It was released in 1998 by Hannibal Records and can be found on Spotify.
Junior Wells says
yes Songhai is a lovely one .Truth be told there are heaps of lovely kora records coz the sound is so mellifluous and also, with most being Griots, they tend to play the same traditional songs.
Blue Boy says
And to add to your growing collection there is of course Toumani’s wonderful record with Ali Farka Toure, ‘In the Heart of the Moon’, and the brilliant ‘Clychau Dibon’ by Seckou Keita and harpist Catrin Finch. Both are inspired collaborations of the highest order.
Junior Wells says
and just to add to Mousey’s review….can’t wait to see them.
http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/music/toumani-and-sidiki-diabate-review-fascinating-contrasts-between-father-and-son-20150304-13umpe.html
Junior Wells says
ThiS interview is interesting re the scales.
http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/music/kora-master-passes-down-stories-20150304-13vdlg.html