Review | Songlines

Griot Jazz

Rating: ★★★★

View album and artist details

Album and Artist Details

Artist/band:

Baba Sissoko

Label:

Caligola Records

March/2022

Those lucky enough to be backstage for rehearsals of the African opera Le Vol du Boli, taking place at a major theatre in Paris, would hear three Malian musicians constantly playing together at every opportunity. From those sessions Griot Jazz arose. Himself a griot, Baba Sissoko, master on ngoni and talking drum, wrote material from these meet-ups and together with Lansiné Kouyaté on balafon and Madou Sidiki Diabaté on kora the album took shape. They met up to record in the studio of longtime friend Jean-Philippe Rykiel, where the exceptional groove generated by the trio, illuminated by Sissoko’s haunting voice, reached a new dimension with Rykiel adding his magical touch on keyboards. Of the 15 tracks, the most powerful are those singing praise with contagious vitality and sense of gravity to seven key members of the opera cast and crew. Tribute is also paid to composer Damon Albarn during ‘Kamissoko’ (his given name in Mali), to author and well-known Mauritanian filmmaker, Abderrahmane Sissako, and to Malian star Fatoumata Diawara. A most poignant honour is given to stage director Dorcy Rugamba, who tragically lost most of his family during the Rwandan genocide. Griot Jazz flows like a clear fresh water spring.

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