Life is good

 La vie est belle, life is good. This might be the slogan of Mali's famous blind musical couple, Amadou & Mariam.They met at the Bamako Blind Institute, where they both played in the house orchestra, the Eclipse Orchestra.

Sharing the faith of falling blind during their childhood, they stayed together, married in 1980 and since 1989, they recorded music together. On their first abums, Amadou plays guitar, and either Mariam or Amadou signed for the vocals. After some years, international success came with working with names such as Manu Chao, Santigold, Damon Albarn and others.

After 5 acoustic albums, 10 international albums and various compilations and live recordings, it was time to compile nearly 35 years of music or more, with a new album Best Of, with 3 new tracks. The physical album comes as a double vinyl, or a collector double CD. The second CD of the collector double CD contains a live recording made in total darkness, hence the name Eclipse, recorded in 2012.

Realising a dream

 Mali's star kora-player Toumani Diabaté does not need any introduction. Much acclaimed and respected, faithful to tradition and open to collaborations with a variety of musicians and vocalists.

Toumani wanted to work with the London Symphony Orchestra since a long time. In 2008, 6 tracks were recorded at the Barbican Centre in London, with Kassemady Diabaté's voice (he passed away in 2018), and Lassana Diabaté on balafon. These recordings are now being released on 23 April 2021.

Other Malian musicians were:

Fanta Mady Kouyaté: acoustic and electric guitar

Ganda Tounkara: Ngoni

Fodé Kouyaté: Calabash & Tama

The CD sticker says it all:

'A groundbreaking collaboration from the Grammy-winning Malian Kora virtuoso & the world-famous Orchestra'

and further:

'An achingly beautiful and fresh sound that will appeal to admirers of African, traditional & new classical, and ambient music'

Bamba Wassoulou Groove

Back again with a new CD (well, released in November 2015 already), but I bought it this week.

The French Label Bleu from Amiens put a large sticker on the bottom of the cover, with the following text:

BLUESY / HYPNOTIQUE / GROOVE

BAMBA WASSOULOU GROOVE : LE NOUVEAU SOUFFLE DE LA MUSIQUE DE BAMAKO

Le Bamba Wassoulou Groove est donc composé de 7 musiciens (3 guitares, 1 basse, 1 batterie, des percussions et un chanteur. (...)

I saw their concert on 9 April this year, in RASA, Utrecht and I was quite happy to witness this concert, especially because Bamba Wassoulou Groove create a modern version of the Bambara afro-rock by late Zani Diabaté's Super Djata Band, one of my all-time favourites.