Ali Farka Toure - Savane +Album Reviews

A man at peace with himself

James Ferguson | Vilnius, Lithuania | 05/10/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ali Farka Toure looks and sounds like a man at peace with himself on this his final recording. The man who turned his back on the popular Afrobeat rhythms of his day, also turned his back on Western recording studios, returning to his roots in Mali, where he set up his own farm and recording studio, nurturing a village and a new generation of musicians. Savane, like Niafunke before, is a straight forward album, accompanied by local musicians, with a guest appearance by Pee Wee Ellis on two selections, and drawing on a wellspring of traditional Malian rhythms. In his music Ali Farka Toure demonstrated the connection between traditional West African music and the Delta Blues. Numerous comparisons were drawn to artists like John Lee Hooker and Lightnin' Hopkins, but he had a sound all his own, and at his peak was a towering figure in the world music industry, inspiring numerous Western as well as African musicians, resulting in the annual Festival in the Desert, which was captured in a 2003 recording on CD and DVD. Ali Farka Toure was also featured in Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues - A Musical Journey. For those who would like to sample some of his earlier recordings, I would suggest the recently released boxed set Red & Green."

Probably His Best

COMPUTERJAZZMAN | Cliffside Park, New Jersey United States | 04/29/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I guess this is the album that makes people draw comparisons between Ali Farka Toure and John Lee Hooker, because he most closely sounds like him on this CD, but with a West African feel to the music. This is just a fantastic recording, and if you were to buy just one Toure CD, I guess this owuld be the one. I like all his music, but this one stands out more than the others."

Hard core Toure

Keith Kay | Petaluma, CA | 05/27/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I love the hard cut sound compared to lots of other Malian musicians. Highly recommended if you like the blues. Slaves came from Africa and the region of West Africa in particular...blues came from slaves. Its interesting to see the massive musical similarities between the two styles."

Heaviest, darkest, and most final Toure. C'est parfait.

polymer moy | newport | 02/27/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Those acquainted with Toure's totally unique guitar sound will be surprised to see it brought up a notch, many tracks filled a dirty , overdriven and primordial guitar tone. The recording is also fuller and more lush than many of his other albums, which usually bare his performance down to the absolute most confident minimum, voice, guitar, light rhythm sections. We hear how Toure's voice has aged over time, and he crows knowing he is reaching his end, making the music all the more powerful to the listener. Some of the album is propulsive and optimistic, but the best tracks are the brooding and totally immersive atmospheres such as the title track 'Savane', one of the most powerful songs Toure ever crafted. Beautiful ending to a beautiful life and career."

Ali Farka Toure's Last Release

Zekeriyah | Chicago, IL | 07/05/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Recorded live at the Hotel Mande in Bamako, this CD is the last release of the late, great Ali Farka Toure, and it serves as a fitting farewell to the 'King of the desert blues singers.' Ali Farka Toure's deft, soulful guitar-playing and eagerness to collaborate with other artists led to recognition throughout both West Africa and the rest of the world, and rightly so if I do say so myself. If you are a fan of Ali Farka Toure, or Malian music in general, then you no doubt know exactly what I am talking about. If not, then this is as good a place as any to start familiarizing yourself with his works.

Perhaps its fitting that this last release is a masterpiece. Singing in Peul (Fulani), Sonrai (Songhai) and Zarma (or Djerma, another Songhai language), Ali Farka Toure skillfully blends Sahel tradition with broader foreign influences, all while accompanied by ngoni, calabash and other percussion. Toure is joined on this album not only by a number of non-African blues artists, but also his own protege Afel Bocoum. The songs are all captivating and powerful, from the soulful title track 'Savane,' to 'Machengoidi,' to the delightful 'Penda Yora.' As I mentioned, there are a couple more traditional songs on here, like the spirit dances 'Banga' and 'Beto,' as well as the circumcision song 'Hanana'. The final song, 'N'jarou,' is a dedication to the Fulani hero Boubou Ardo Gallo, a contemporary and rival of Cheikhou Amadou. The liner notes provide background and translation for those not familiar with West African languages.

But the music really speaks for itself. As I said before, this is actually part of a series of recordings made at the Hotel Mande; the other two CDs are 'In the Heart of the Moon,' a collaboration between Ali Farka Toure and Toumani Diabate, and Diabate's 'Boulevard de l'Independance,' featuring musicians from across the Sahel region of West Africa. Both are available from Amazon and well worth checking out in their own right, though going into very different traditions. And 'Savane' itself remains a fitting goodbye from the late master of Africa's desert blues..."

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	Ali Farka Toure Savane Genres: International Music, Jazz, New Age, Pop
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