The Fourth Case of the African Desert Crossing
It's another out-of-turn week on TAOES... we stay in the Motherland today for a special occasion edition of the big show.
The special occasion this week is a Portland appearance by one of my very favorite artists from the contemporary African music scene: Bassekou Kouyate will be performing Wednesday Oct 15 at the Alberta Rose theatre in NE Portland!
Bassekou Kouyate is from Mali, and his music follows the historical genres of the griot class musicians of Western Africa, a tradition that dates back to the ancient Manding empire of that region. Accordingly, the playlist today highlights traditional folk compositions and instruments of Western Africa, with a focus on Mali.
The first hour today is almost entirely devoted to the African folk music revival of the past decade. I have snuck in just a few historical tracks into this set of traditional music. I begin the set with a cluster of songs by Bassekou Kouyate spanning all his Western LP releases.
The second hour today transitions into the great orchestral music of Mali's golden era, the 1970s. We start with one more track by Bassekou Kouyate (this time featuring his pal Taj Mahal!), then we sample increasingly dense and impressive dancehall orchestra pieces from Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Fasso. Some of my all-time favorite African music here.
- 12:04pm Moustapha by Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba on I Speak Fula (Out Here Records)
- 12:11pm Banani by Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba on Segou Blue (Out Here Records)
- 12:15pm Jama Ko by Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba on The Rough Guide to the Music of Mali (Rough Guide Music)
- 12:19pm Ay Hora by Sidi Toure on Alafia (Thrill Jockey)
- 12:25pm Chegharouna by Abba Gargando on Ishilan N-Tenere (Mississippi Records Sahel Sounds)
- 12:30pm Mariama Kaba by Boubacar Traore on Boubacar Traore and his Guitar (Little Axe Records)
- 12:36pm Dofana by Ali Farka Toure on The Source (World Circuit)
- 12:42pm Niang Balo by Nuru Kane on The Rough Guide to African Blues (Rough Guide Music)
- 12:46pm M'Bilo by Rokia Traore on Africa 50 Years of Music (Sterns)
- 12:52pm Minko-Sodia by Tam-Tam Melody on single (Vogue)
- 12:56pm Nimoutaiba by Tam-Tam Melody on Les Ballets Africains de Keita Fodeba (Coral)
- 1:02pm Poye 2 by Bassekou Kouyate with Taj Mahal on Jama Ko (Out Here Records)
- 1:08pm Mali Dje by Ali Farka Toure on The Rough Guide to Desert Blues (Rough Guide Music)
- 1:14pm Chie by Orchestre Biton National on Panorama du Mali (Mali Music)
- 1:19pm Labankan by Orchestre Regional de Sikasso on Electric Mali (Discograph)
- 1:26pm Sakhodougou by Balla et ses Balladins on Syliphone Discotheque 71 (Syliphone Conakry)
- 1:31pm A Son Magni by Cisse Abdoulaye & Super Volta on Ouaga Affair (Savannaphone)
- 1:35pm Kenuna by l'Orchestre le Bida de la Capitale on l'Orchestre le Bida de la Capitale (Mali Kunkan)
- 1:42pm Guede by l'Orchestre le National Badema on l'Orchestre le National Badema (Mali Kunkan)
- 1:54pm Siseni by Le Super Biton National de Segou on Le Super Biton National de Segou (Kindred Spirits)