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Ali & Toumani
Ali Farka Toure, Toumani Diabate
Ali & Toumani
Genres: International Music, Pop
 
  •  Track Listings (11) - Disc #1

Ali and Toumani is the second and final album pairing the late Malian guitar virtuoso Ali Farka Touré and kora master Toumani Diabaté . Recorded over three afternoons at London's Livingston Studios in 2005, with ...  more »

     
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All Artists: Ali Farka Toure, Toumani Diabate
Title: Ali & Toumani
Members Wishing: 12
Total Copies: 0
Label: Nonesuch
Original Release Date: 1/1/2010
Re-Release Date: 2/23/2010
Genres: International Music, Pop
Style:
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 075597980110

Synopsis

Product Description
Ali and Toumani is the second and final album pairing the late Malian guitar virtuoso Ali Farka Touré and kora master Toumani Diabaté . Recorded over three afternoons at London's Livingston Studios in 2005, with contributions from the late
Orlando 'Cachaito' Lopez (Buena Vista Social Club) on bass, Ali and Toumani is the follow-up to the duo's Grammy Award-winning 'In the Heart of the Moon.' The new album was produced by Nick Gold and recorded by Jerry Boys, the same production team behind the collaboration's first effort. It is the also the last album recorded by Ali Farka Touré, who
passed away on March 7, 2006.
The duo's new release presents their usual playfulness, effervescence, and mastery in further exploration of songs reaching back into both musicians' pasts. 'It wasn't about covering old songs just because there weren't any new ones, no
not at all,' said Diabaté, continuing: 'It was about revealing all the different possibilities once again... I believe this album to
be stronger and wiser, better than 'In the Heart of the Moon.' Simultaneously reverent and informal, this album brings
together the divergent folk and classical traditions from Northern and Southern Mali, creating a loving homage to the West African nation that is thoroughly appropriate for the late Touré's last recording. In the words of Diabaté, 'what we are doing
is very important because we are both, above all, Malians. It's about love, sincerity, [and] solidarity.'

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CD Reviews

"When you listen to this album...
Friederike Knabe | Ottawa, Ontario Canada | 03/23/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)

""...it's like you're reading a book about Ali..." With these words Toumani Diabaté opened his introduction to this, the last recording made with the late Ali Farka Touré. The eleven pieces on this exceedingly beautiful CD tell the story not only of the legendary blues man Ali Farka but of both virtuosi - Toumani at the kora and Ali Farka with the guitar - and their close friendship and harmonious collaboration that evolved during the last years of Ali Farka's life.



Anybody who has enjoyed their individual music and recordings for many years and their first, outstanding, joint production of In the Heart of the Moon will want to add this album to their collection. Yet, newcomers to Mali music will find this set of mostly instrumental songs especially rewarding. The tunes, all rooted in the history of the different regions of Mali, are gentle and subtle and richly melodious. Their styles reflect their respective ethnic cultures: Ali comes from the northern Songraï and Toumani from a long line of (southern) Mandé griot tradition. As Toumani explains in the accompanying notes, the melodies have been "refined" over several sessions to perfection; they are the outcome of an ever deepening mutual understanding of the two artists and appreciation of their musical roots and talents. Some of the pieces, familiar to one or the other, had never been recorded before or not in this combination of instruments. Others, were developed ad hoc from traditional melodies and historical stories. All are rich and diverse and illustrate why Mali plays such an important role in West African music. It is impossible to choose a favourite or two. Listen to all of them, many times. A beautiful tribute indeed to both artists.





The recording was made in London and brought Orlando 'Cachaito' Lopez to join the two musicians on bass as well as Ali's son, Vieux Farka and his band for backup instruments and vocals. [Friederike Knabe]





"
Mellow, nice music
Galen O. Johnson | MPLS, MN | 06/04/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great mix of Kora (African harp) and Toure's memorable guitar. It seem like a jam session in it's ease and flow."
Ali & Toumani
Robert E. Penn | New York City | 05/20/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)

"For those who love World Music, this is the epitome. It combines virtuoso performances on both traditional African and modern western instruments. Music for ALL."