Habib Koite

Selecting music to review is always a challenge. My last review of
Toumani Diabate leads me into the next review.

There is another musician from Mali, who has been one of
my favorites for many years. Unlike Toumani Diabate, Habib Koite
plays guitar. (Anyone who knows me, knows that guitar is my
favorite instrument.) Habib Koite is probably the biggest pop star
in his native Mali; he is becoming much more widely known in the
United States.

He is a virtuoso guitar player, as well as a wonderful singer and
composer. His guitar playing is an interesting combination of
Western and Malian styles, giving him a unique sound.

I recently found out that these two artists are playing some
concerts together in the United States; including a stop in
Princeton, New Jersey, in April of next year. I have seen Habib
Koite and his band in concert several times; the shows have always
been excellent. This is my first opportunity to see these two
sensational artists together.(Since I live in New Jersey, I will
definitely be at that concert. In fact I have already pre-ordered
tickets.)


Habib Koite and Bamada also have a new album out; it is called Afriki,
and comes with my highest recommendation. Baro and Ma Ya are two of his
earlier albums, which are also excellent. Ma Ya is the first of his
albums I heard, I became a fan on the first hearing.


I recently read a quote from Bonnie Raitt which said
"First there was Hendrix, then Stevie Ray, and now
Habib." I think the praise is well deserved.

Toumani Diabate-Kora Master

Toumani Diabate is a Kora player from Mali. (The kora is a sort of African harp.)
He comes from a line of griots (traditional musicians, singers and storytellers, similar to the European bards)and has been recording since the late 1980's. (His father released what may have been the first kora album around 1970.)

I first heard of Toumani Diabate and the kora when he recorded with a group called Songhai. They combined the traditions of flamenco with Toumani's kora to produce some incredible music, and I have been a fan ever since.

His reputation has been growing internationally, in fact his latest release, The Mande Variations, was recently reviewed in the New York Times.

It is an album of solo kora, with no overdubs. The Times review used terms like "cascading counterpoint" and "filigrees...precisely weighted" in an attempt to describe the music.

It is exceptional music, and comes with my highest recommendation. (Also try listening to Songhai, or any of his other collaborations. I especially liked the album he did with Ali Farka Toure, In The Heart of The Moon.)

Darvish

Darvish

Dictionary.com defines the word eclectic several ways, including: "not following any one system, as of philosophy, medicine, etc., but selecting and using what are considered the best elements of all systems." That is the meaning of the word I want to emphasize.

I struggled with the decision of what CD or group I would discuss in my first review on this blog. This definition of "eclectic" helped me to decide on the group "Darvish." They personify this definition in their approach to music. As far as I know, they have only one CD, which is called "Darvish."

Darvish is a group of three incredible musicians, cellist and composer, Moses Sedler; percussionist Peter Maund, and pianist and composer Victor Spiegel. (7 of the 9 compositions on Darvish are by Spiegel, the remaining two are by Sedler.)

Their music is a blend of many traditions, including jazz, Middle Eastern, Indian and classical music. They describe their music as "world fusion chamber music."

Their CD is available at CDbaby.com, where you can sample portions of the recording, to see if you would enjoy adding it to your collection. If you enjoy great music, I recommend Darvish with no reservations.

Not Just Any Music Reviews

The reviews you find here will reflect my personal taste. Don't expect to find reviews of the latest hot project by the newest "Idol". Some reviews will be current; some will be timeless. I will review only music I think is worthwhile, so don't look here if you want to see any artist put down or insulted.

My tastes are wide ranging and cover many genres and artists, hence the name of this blog, "Eclectic Music Reviews".

Some artists I enjoy are (in no particular order): Richard Thompson, Linda Thompson, Pat Metheny, Chinmaya Dunster, Jai Uttal, Nick Drake, Van Morrison, Joe Pass, Louis Armstrong, Bryan Ferry, Bill Frisell, The Cottars, Daniel Paul, Habib Koite, Johnny Clegg, Lizz Wright, Ozzie Kotani, Pink Martini, Pepe and the Bottle Blondes, Rodrigo y Gabriella, Steve Tyrell, The Chieftains, The Mavericks. That is only a very partial list.

I own around 1000 CD's, in many different styles-jazz, folk, rock, world, alternative, new age, folk-rock, singer-songwriters, traditional, classical, some difficult to classify. I don't like rap, hip-hop, techno-pop, and any music focused primarily in anger, and hatred.

This has been a small introduction into what I want to present here; my first review will be posted tomorrow.