One of the great qualities of music is the way it provides a language for conducting conversations between different cultures. It’s an entirely open system of communication where dialects and borders are irrelevant. When there is an ineffable link between the cultures involved, the contours of the dialogue can run very deep indeed.
The depth of this particular conversation is a case in point. Its significance has profound historical roots.
The West African nation of Mali is believed to be the ancient cradle of the griot tradition of storytelling through music. The tradition can be traced back to the 13th century when the Mande griots were court minstrels to the first emperor of Mali. Their favoured accompaniment was the kora, a 21-stringed African harp with a gourd soundbox. Its sweet sound is inextricably intertwined not only with their heritage but also with the rich tapestry of intricate and impassioned music that Mali has produced in the modern era.
Toumani Diabate comes from a long family tradition of kora players including his father Sidiki Diabate, who recorded the first ever kora album, Ancient Strings, in 1970. Taj Mahal was smitten by the sound upon first hearing and the seeds for this collaboration were duly sown.
Like many exponents of old-time Delta-style blues, Taj Mahal believed that their music had its origins in work songs and spirituals brought to America by African slaves. His innate feeling for Malian music compelled him to investigate further. This desire to explore the connections was all about introducing a long lost descendant to its ancient ancestor.
The stellar collision of Mahal’s husky blues tenor and the soaring mellifluous tones of Ramatou Daikate on the opening ‘Queen Bee’ is an indication that this meeting of stars was perhaps pre-destined. From there the story unfolds with the natural grace of petals in the sunshine.
The repertoire includes blues standards as well as traditional tunes from Mali. The principal players converse with the consummate ease of long lost friends. Both bring a fiery dexterity to their interactions and sparks fly at every turn. The connections they forge appear familiar. The roots of this conversation stretch back centuries. It’s only natural.
