The latest releases reviewed.

TOUMANI DIABATÉ'S SYMMETRIC ORCHESTRA
Boulevard de l'Independence
World Circuit
*****

It's clear that there's much more than just one string to Toumani Diabaté's Malian bow. Best known for his masterly kora playing (check out the classic New Ancient Strings) and last year's heart-warming collaboration with the late, great Ali Farka Toure (In the Heart of the Moon), Diabaté is now fronting one of the finest big bands to come from Africa in an age. Boulevard de l'Independance features musicians who've joined Diabaté at Friday night jam sessions at Bamako's Hogon Club. It's certainly not the place for introspection, with the musicians combining gloriously to fire up one funky, rocking, joyous groove after another. Each component part, from the dashing brass and fierce, punchy percussion to the strings and Diabaté's kora, are perfectly on song, ensuring there's an enormous, wicked bounce to such tracks as Salsa and Yo Fama. The next best thing to actually being at that Friday night session. www.worldcircuit.co.uk

Jim Carroll