Search - Jali Musa Jawara :: Yasimika

My definitive kora virtuoso

02/05/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm astonished that this CD has no reviews. It is easily my favorite recording of African music of any kind (followed closely only by some Ethiopian dance instrumentals from the 1970's), and the song 'Haidara' is one of my top ten favorite recordings in the world since I first heard it 14 years ago.Guinean kora player and vocalist Jawara essembled an absolutely perfect group for this all too brief recording. Along with the two guitars, balafon (a hand-made marimba-like percussion instrument) and two female backup singers, Jawara's kora bursts from their unified sound with shimmering confidence like rain whipping on ocean waves. His honeyed voice glides just over the surface, answered by a bright, distant chorus. Unlike the steady beat of South African pop, Manding music is propelled by a rolling pulse that can induce the feeling of floating bodily among intersecting, organic currents. This is no scratchy field recording, but the all-acoustic songs are rooted in deep traditions from the urban music of both Guinea and Mali. It suffers from none of the banal Western influences that can occasionally saturate less traditional African pop. The album was recorded in Ivory Coast, first released in France in 1985 and reprinted in the US by Hannibal Records (Polygram) in 1990. Also check out Jawara's earlier album with the same instrumentation, 'Soubindoor'. As rich as 'Yasimika', but with a less perfectly balanced mix by the recording engineer."

Very good indeed

Billy Hanley | Ireland | 12/08/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I only know one song from this album, it is called Haidara and is available on the Rough Guide to Mali & Senegal album, which in itself is as good a guide to the music of the region as one can get in my opinion.



Haidara is one of the best songs I've ever heard."

Possibly the most beautiful African music ever recorded ...

Berlioz | San Antonio, Texas USA | 11/02/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"and I've heard plenty. I second everything the other reviewer says. Sadly, this CD has been out of print for years. As I type this, the only used copy of the CD listed on amazon goes for $87.39."