#4910, Remembering Toumani Diabate

New Sounds | Aug 7, 2024

In this episode of New Sounds, we celebrate the legacy of the late Toumani Diabaté, a master of the kora -the  sublime West African instrument crafted from gourd, cow-skin, and fishing line. Toumani Diabaté was born in Bamako, Mali, in 1965, into a family of griots, a lineage of hereditary musicians that stretches back 71 generations.

Listen to "Tubaka," recorded in 1986 when Toumani was just 21 years old. This track is from his first solo album, Kaira, the first-ever solo kora album and still a best seller. Then, enjoy "Caramello," a collaboration between the Spanish flamenco group Ketama and bassist Danny Thompson, showcasing the seamless blend of kora and flamenco.

Throughout his career, Toumani Diabaté worked with musicians from various musical fields, creating a unique fusion of sounds that transcended cultural and geographical boundaries. Hear "Mali Sadio," performed by Toumani and his Symmetric Orchestra—a group that symbolized the perfect balance between tradition and modernity, featuring musicians from several closely related countries.

Plus, listen to Diabaté’s GRAMMY award-winning collaboration with instrumentalist Ali Farka Touré, highlighting the extraordinary synergy between two of Mali's greatest musical talents. - David Norville

ARTIST: Björk, Toumani Diabaté
WORK: Hope
RECORDING: Volta
SOURCE: One Little Indian
INFO: https://bjork.bandcamp.com/album/volta

ARTIST: Toumani Diabaté
WORK: Tubaka
RECORDING: Kaira
SOURCE: Hannibal Records
INFO: https://www.allmusic.com/album/kaira-mw0000196836

ARTIST: Danny Thompson, Ketama, and Toumani Diabaté
WORK: Caramello
RECORDING: Songhai
SOURCE: Nuevos Medios
INFO: https://www.allmusic.com/album/kaira-mw0000196836

ARTIST: Toumani Diabaté
WORK: Elyne Road
RECORDING:The Mandé Variations
SOURCE: World Circuit
INFO: https://worldcircuit.lnk.to/TDMandeVariationsWE

ARTIST: Toumani Diabaté, Roswell Rudd
WORK: Bamako
RECORDING: Malicool
SOURCE: Sunnyside
INFO: https://www.allmusic.com/album/malicool-mw0000019771

 

ARTIST: Toumani Diabaté's Symmetric Orchestra
WORK: Mali Sadio
RECORDING: Boulevard de l'Indépendance
SOURCE: World Circuit
INFO: https://worldcircuit.lnk.to/ToumaniBoulevardWE

ARTIST: Toumani Diabaté
WORK: Cantelowes
RECORDING: The Mandé Variations
SOURCE: World Circuit
INFO: https://worldcircuit.lnk.to/TDMandeVariationsWE

ARTIST: Toumani Diabaté, Ali Farka Touré
WORK: Hawa Dolo
RECORDING: In the Heart of the Moon
SOURCE: World Circuit
INFO: https://worldcircuit.lnk.to/AliToumaniHOTMWE

ARTIST: Danny Thompson, Ketama, and Toumani Diabaté
WORK: Ne Ne Koitaa
RECORDING: Songhai
SOURCE: Nuevos Medios
INFO: https://www.allmusic.com/album/songhai-mw0000200715

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