Tolonso

Following their excellent debut, Miriya [reviewed in #127], this is the sophomore release from an exciting and very talented group playing a dynamic fusion of traditional West African Mande music and jazzy modern African dance music. They are led by balafon player Seydou Diabaté, who comes from a griot family in Burkina Faso [his brother is Mamadou of Percussion Mania, who featured in the balafon Tools of the Trade article in #123]. He plays both pentatonic and diatonic balafon and sings primarily in the Dioula language. Joining him are vocalists Losso Keita, and Mamadou Dembélé who also plays ngoni (hunter's harp) and flute. The band is completed by bass, drums, percussion, and the superb saxophonist Martin Etienne.

Kanazoé Orkestra's style is deceptive. Initially they appear to be a typical modern Mande band with gently rippling balafon and griot-style vocals. However, their jazz influences soon move the groove into a constantly twisting and occasionally marvellously frantic riot of sound. Brilliant balafon playing at times sounds like a sped-up Javanese gamelan. Guests include Ivorian singer Dobet Gnahoré who duets beautifully with Dembélé on ‘Djoroko’, and three tracks with French keyboard wizard Jean-Philippe Rykiel, who excels on the Latin flavoured track ‘Tounga’.