Le Trio Joubran - Masar

In the twenty years since Malian guitar legend Ali Farka Touré won his first Grammy, a whole spectrum of African Blues has become hugely popular with a global audience. The shades of Blues on this Rough Guide range from the deep indigo of the Saharan nomads to a vivid Madagascan cobalt.

For more information, visit www.worldmusic.net/africanblues

Africa is considered by many to be the home of the Blues, both musically and spiritually. Musically the connection is particularly evident in the music of Ali Farka Touré and other artists from Mali and Saharan West Africa. Elsewhere, the link to the Blues can be described as more spiritual – the intensity of the emotion comes across in the passion of the voices and the rawness of the music.

West Africa provides the first few songs on this Rough Guide. Ali Farka Touré himself said that he was ‘an absolute fool for the guitar’ in the 1970s when ‘Yer Mali Gakoyoyo’ was recorded for Mali’s national radio station, while ‘Dani Dou’ by his acolyte Samba Touré hints at the loping gait of a camel-train.  Tamikrest and Bombino represent further variations of the blues of the Sahara.

Senegalese artists Nuru Kane and Amadou Diagne are joined by musicians from their adopted communities in France and the UK and it’s English guitarist Ramon Goose who provides the springy electric riff to accompany Modou Touré’s vocals in the West African Blues Project.  Meanwhile, Zambian-born Dominic Kakolobango is joined by American Elijah Wald on the dual finger-picking guitars of ‘Gueza Tabiya’ (Change Your Habits) and an international band, including oud and piano, provides a lush backing for Amira Kheir’s jazzy exploration of her Sudanese heritage.

The complex traditional music of their native Madagascar influences the blues of both Nogabe Randriaharimalala and Lala Njava, while Menelik Wesnatchew’s ‘Teteza’ is a beautifully swaying version of ‘Ethiopia’s majestic hymn to the blues’. 

Dilon Djindji, from Mozambique, made his first guitar from an oil can when he was twelve years old, 63 years before his first solo album was released. The final track on the album is a unique unaccompanied vocal piece by La Reunion’s greatest maloya artist, Danyèl Waro.

Nuru Kane: Niang Balo (taken from The Rough Guide To African Blues)

Remix of Natacha Atlas "Mounqaliba" by Another Fine Day (aka Tom Green) released on Six Degrees September 2011    http://sixdegreesrecords.com/natacharemixed.php

Natacha Atlas- "Mounqaliba" Another Fine Day 'Brixton Dub' remix

Vengo (2000) soundtrack

Written by Tomatito, Sheikh Ahmad Al Tuni and Tony Gatlif
Guitars: Tomatito
Percussion Ramón Suárez Escobar and Israel Suárez Escobar
Violin: Bernardo Fernández Calvez
Palmas: Rafael García Serrano 'El Electrico' and Antonio Torrez Fernández
Singer: Sheikh Ahmad Al Tuni
Kamarga: Fath Abbas Hashem and Mostafa Benhmad
Oud: Mohamed Mahmoud Abdel Megid
Rapp: Rashidi Khamas Rashidi
Derbouka: Solman Al Tuni and Kamal Daas
Duff: Abbas Baktuari

Fusion Flamenco Soufi

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WTM - Instrumental

Jonatan Derbaq - Lamma Bada Yata Sana

Rabih Abou-Khalil - Mourir pour ton decollete

Hajri

this little tongue in cheek song  was written and recorded by myself and Marc Eagleton, and additional arrangements by Ricardo in LA

George Clooney

this is from the contemporary score ''Les Nuits'' written and recorded by myself and Samy Bishai in 2013

Les Nuits

Kan Ya Ma Kan - Once Upon A TIme

this track was written and recorded by myself and Samy Bishai for the Christian Louboutin perfume ''Bikini Questa sera'' advert on social media

George Clooney

Natacha Atlas Official

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