The Next Case of the Desert Passage

To be honest, I've forgotten how many shows I've done so far in the genres of African Folk and Malian music... so we're saying this is the "next" such case of the desert passage.

The first hour today is a tribute to one of the most influential African musicians of the modern era:  Ali Farka Toure of Mali. He was Mali's Bob Dylan, breaking through to popular radio with stripped down folk songs at a time when most African musicians were exploring psychedelic themes with plugged-in bands and orchestras. His (relatively) eye-popping record sales in Europe and America ensured that today's African music scene would include a healthy contingent dedicated to these desert region folk music sounds.

Unfortunately for today's listeners, the very best music from Ali Farka Toure (IMO) has not been adequately reissued; music from his celebrated first 5 albums has only been reissued once in any format since the initial release, partially anthologized on a single CD from World Circuit titled "Radio Mali" (essential listening).

Today I am going to share a couple tracks from that CD, along with some other songs from those fine first albums of Ali Farka Toure... plus I'll mix in a few current pieces of African folk issued recently by Portland-based record labels.

The second hour today is devoted to deep psychedelic music from Mali and its neighbors. We'll hear mind-blowing work from Malian legends such as Rail Band, Sorry Bamba, and Le Mystere Jazz de Tombouctou. We'll also hear similar tracks from more obscure bands in Guinea and Burkina Faso.