Mali Lolo: Stars of Mali
The West-African nation of Mali is home to an astonishing variety of musical traditions, dating back to ancient times. That some of it sounds so familiar to Western ears is not surprising, as untold thousands of slaves who ultimately made landfall in North and South America or the Caribbean began their tragic journeys here. These 16 geographically and stylistically varied tracks range from bluesy singer-guitarists to big bands, from acoustic settings to modern electric arrangements. Even generations later, it is obvious that today's Bambara troubadours, Wassoulou divas, and hereditary musician-historians have much in common with Delta bluesmen, R&B; queens, and gospel shouters. To adequately represent such a wealth of material on a single CD is a tall order, but this superbly thought-out compilation succeeds beyond all hope. The presentation is further enhanced by a 32-page booklet containing Banning Eyre's fascinating liner notes and producer Jon Kertzer's own detailed track descriptions.-- Christina Roden