African Rhapsodies

Senegalese kora player Seckou Keita has been on a mission to expand the sound of the instrument, having already been part of countless well-respected cross-genre collaborations, from his duo work with Welsh harpist Catrin Finch and Cuban pianist Omar Sosa to the AKA Trio and the folk experimentations of the Spell Songs ensemble. Here he branches out yet again, this time placing the kora at the heart of a full orchestra, in this case the BBC Concert Orchestra.

Across the ten tracks on African Rhapsodies, we are treated to some familiar tunes. ‘Future Strings’ is a personal favourite from his back catalogue, originally released with Catrin Finch on Clychau Dibon and again as a solo piece on 22 Strings. Here it opens the album with a cinematic sweep, the kora doesn't even appear until over a minute and a half in. The orchestration, made with composer Davide Mantovani, is gorgeous and full. The different timbres weave in and out, each picking up a part of the whole. As lovely and interesting as it is, I still prefer the original whose beauty was in its delicateness. Seckou's positivity – any who have seen him live will recognise that joyful, wide smile anywhere – is still palpable in the songs, even as they gain more heft with the orchestra.

‘Simply Beautiful Miro’ is comforting and warm, supported by the unmistakable voice and cello of Abel Selaocoe. And closer ‘Bamba, The Light of Touba’, which ‘invites us to follow a spiritual path… to work for peace and to always come back to what matters the most, love,’ is appropriately joyful and light.