"Segu Blue" - Bassekou Kouyate

• artist:
  Bassekou Kouyate
• country:
  Mali
• release year:
  2007
• style(s): Blues
• formats:
  • CD (Compact Disc)
  • LP / Vinyl
• record submitted by:
  outhere records
• label:
  out | here rec
• publisher:
  World Circuit

In July out|here rec went to Mali to record an album with ngoni player Bassekou Kouyate. The album Segu Blue will be out on February 23rd, 2007. Bassekou Kouyate is Mali's ngoni wizard prominently featured on Ali Farka Toure's beautiful posthumous album Savane. Bassekou Kouyate has been a member of Toumani Diabate's Symmetric Orchestra back in the days when they were still performing as a trio with balafonplayer Keletigui Diabate. He has worked with Taj Mahal, Bela Fleck, Dee Dee Bridgewater and many other international musicians.

Segu Blue focuses on a long neglected tradition of Mali's rich musical heritage: bambara culture. The songs take us back to the last pre-colonial Malian kingdom founded by Biton Mamary Coulibaly in 1712 in Segu on the banks of the Niger river: the time of the great heroes of the Bambara (Bamana) empire. Segu Blue also reestablishes the important role of the ngoni, an instrument that in the hands of the griot has been the witness of Malian history ever since the days of 13th century emperor Sundiata Keita. Bassekou's new group the Ngoni Ba is Mali's first ngoni quartet. It is made up solely of ngonis of different sizes. None of the usual string instruments like koras mostly associated with griot music can be heard on the album except for an occasional traditional bass (m'bolon) and a soku (one-string violin).

The idea to do this album was born in Bamako when Jay Rutledge head of out|here records watched a show by Bassekou while hanging out with Lucy Duran in march 2006. Lucy has produced such great albums as New Ancient Strings a duo between Toumani Diabate and Ballake Sissoko, Kulanjan feat. Taj Mahal, Paraiso di Gumbe by Manecas Costa among others. Hearing Bassekou live was stunning. When Lucy agreed to join in as artistic director it was soon decided that we had to do this together. A couple months later we were back in Mali to record the album at Bogolan studios with Yves Wernert who has recorded artist like Rokia Traore, Björk and many others. His long experience of working in Mali contributed a lot to the album. Last but not least we were lucky to have Jerry Boys (the man who recorded Buena Vista Social Club, Ali Farka Toure among many, many others …) to add the finishing touches by mixing the record in London.

Segu Blue while showcasting the ngoni also features remarcable vocals by Grammy Nominee Kassemady Diabate, Zoumana Tereta, Lobi Traore and Bassekou's wife Ami Sacko one of the most well-known singers on Bamako's wedding circuit.

Links

• website