Particularly dynamic in the 1990s, the British label World Circuit notably released a string of Malian landmarks, including the diva Oumou Sangaré, kora player Toumani Diabaté, and singer-guitarist Ali Farka Touré. Author of graceful works such as Niafunké, The Source, and Talking Timbuktu—the latter in collaboration with the great Ry Cooder—the late composer achieved a perfect balance between tradition and modernity. With remarkable elegance, this artistic path has since been embraced by his own son, Vieux Farka Touré.
Open to many horizons, Vieux Farka Touré’s discography is punctuated with fascinating collaborations: with jazz guitarist John Scofield, Israeli composer Idan Raichel, and his friend Sidiki Diabaté, son of Toumani Diabaté. Imbued with pentatonic scales and even blues elements (he is nicknamed the “Saharan Jimi Hendrix”), his work radiates an undeniable magnetism.
Recorded at the Parisian studio Le Claque, the musician delivers Diaraby and Lobo, two pieces written by his illustrious forebear. Impressive, these tracks showcase the richness of West African repertoires. Equally striking, Ngala Kaourene reveals the musical mastery of Vieux Farka Touré. Enriched by the ngoni, a traditional lute with an ancestral sound, this lyrical piece encapsulates the very essence of his artistic sensibility.