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Remembering Toumani Diabaté: MALIcool

By Ian Patterson
August 20, 2024
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The passing of Malian kora griot Toumani Diabaté in July is a great loss to music. Born in Bamako in 1965, in post-independence Mali, Diabaté grew up playing traditional music. but as a leader he was a modernist from the get-go, collaborating with flamenco fusionists Ketama and English bassist Danny Thompson on the excellent Songhai (Nuevos Medios, 1988), as well as making fascinating albums with Taj Mahal and Bela Fleck.

One of Diabaté's most rewarding musical partnerships was with he great free-jazz/avant-garde trombonist Roswell Rudd, which produced the album MALIcool (Sunnyside Records, 2004). In his review for All About Jazz, the late John Kelman described the music as "Infectious... imaginative and audacious...and completely organic." As ever, John was absolutely spot on. Here, we offer the title track, which highlights not only Diabaté's wonderful musicianship but the special chemistry between the musicians that makes this an indispensable album.

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About Toumani Diabate

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