Vieux Farka Touré, son of the legendary Ali Farka Touré, is a maestro of West African guitar music. This album follows his excellent Tel Aviv Sessions recording, which was a unique fusion with Israeli jazz pianist Idan Raichel. Here Raichel contributes piano to the beautiful and mournful closing track,’Ay Bakoy’. This mainly acoustic work is a homage to Mali as a land of peace and tolerance, and contains many reflections on the cultural destruction caused by recent conflict and terrorism. Two instrumental gems – ‘Future’ and ‘Peace’ – feature the sublime sounds of Sidiki Diabate’s kora (bridge-harp), and express a heartfelt plea for Mali’s future.
[etRating 4]