Bassekou Kouyate

Nostalgie Bamakoises

Mit seiner Ngoni-Laute hat sich der malische Musiker Bassekou Kouyate aufgemacht, das Repertoire seines Grossvaters Bazoumana Sissoko, neu zu vertonen. «Jama Ko» heisst sein neues, drittes Album. Aufgenommen wurde es im März 2012 in Bamako, während vor dem Studio das Militär gegen die malische Regierung putschte. Gewehrschüsse fielen, und Bassekou Kouyate war auf einen Schlag nicht mehr «bloss» Musiker.

Ein Podcast von Thomas Burkhalter. Artikel zum Podcast: https://norient.com/podcasts/bassekoukouyate2013/

Artikel zum Podcast

Bassekou Kouyaté: «Jama Ko» (Podcast)

African music

Jobarteh Kunda Gambia Bajschio

N'Dagna (The Way I Am)

Yakole CD AHA

Sumama CD AHA

BASSEKOU KOUYATE & Ngoni ba – I speak Fula

press reactions:
“This is a cracker.” **** Mojo
“A contender for African album of the year.” ***** Uncut

After his award winning album ‚Segu Blue’ the ngoni wizard from Mali is back with a new offering: ‚I speak fula’. The album captures the incredible live energy of Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni ba and is the next step in the career of one of Malis most exciting and innovative musicians.
The back of this album shows Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni ba standing on the street with the legendary train station ofBamako behind them. In the 80s a young Bassekou Kouyate played a concert there together with members of the famous Rail Band. During the show Bassekou suddenly stood up and walked up to the front of the stage. For the first time a ngoni player strapped his instrument over his shoulder like an electric guitar and was playing a solo standing up. The audience was stunned. Traditionalists even started a debate after the concert about whether this young man was allowed to chan

Bassekou Kouyate - Musow

BASSEKOU KOUYATE & Ngoni ba – Segu Blue (release date: March 2007)

“First there was African tribal music which evolved into slave songs which became the blues which gave birth to the funk. Bassekou and his band tell the whole of this journey in one chapter. The most delicious mix of the finest musical ingredients make a stew that warms the heart and shakes the hips. Trust me, it tastes good!”
Fatboy Slim (Mali, 2006)
“… a fantastic example of how music can lift your mind and soul at the same time … the perfect proof of how inspirational African music can be, how it can touch so many people on so many levels.”
Damon Albarn (after hearing Bassekou & Ngoni ba in Mali, 2006)
“The album Segu Blue is a MUST for anyone seeking new musical adventures.”
Dee Dee Bridgewater
“… a genius, a living proof that the blues comes from the region of Segu.”
Taj Mahal
“I was inspired watching music being performed in it’s truest form”
Scratch – The Roots
“There’s a delicious sound to this record, whose warm, cohesive textures l

Bassekou Kouyate - Jonkoloni

I Speak Fula

Musow (For Our Women)

Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba - Muscow

Bassekou Kouyaté – Griot (Interview)

Bassekou Kouyaté – Djadje Sangare (Interview)

Bassekou Kouyaté - Taj Mahal (Interview)

Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni ba return with a new single, new album and live dates

Mali's ngoni ace returns. After his celebrated debut album Segu Blue and the Grammy nominated follow up I speak fula, hundreds of concerts all over the globe, an appearance headlining the AfroCubism project and, just a few months ago, stunning appearances at the latest Africa Express events performing with Sir Paul McCartney, Damon Albarn and many others, Bassekou Kouyate is back with his new album.

Jama ko means 'a big gathering of people'.  It is the first song to be released from the forthcoming album of the same title. It is a call for unity, peace and tolerance in a time of crisis: no matter who you are, let us come together and enjoy life, and celebrate the true spirit of Mali.

“Jama ko, c’est pour tout le monde”, says Bassekou Kouyate, the celebrated ngoni player, explaining the title of his third album, “There are over 90% Muslims in Mali, but our form of Islam here has nothing to do with a radical form of Sharia: that is not our culture. We have been singing praise songs for the Prophet for hundreds of years. If the Islamists stop people music making they will rip the heart out of Mali.”

The recording of Jama ko took place in March 2012 in Mali's capital Bamako. It was recorded with an entirely new line-up including Bassekou's two sons Madou and Moustafa Kouyate, ngoni ace Abou Sissoko and a number of other young talented musicians from Bamako. It became political by accident. In the afternoon of the first day in the studio the military overthrew the president Amadou Toumani Toure (ATT).  It was a shock for Bassekou as the former president was a great supporter of his music. Somewhere between power cuts, fuel shortages and the uncertainty of daily curfews the recording went on. Meanwhile the situation in the north of Mali was getting worse and worse by the day. In the studio a musical answer started taking shape: Instead of keeping quiet Bassekou plugged in his wah wah pedal, cranked up his amp and let loose: Ne me fatigue pas: don't wear me out. You can hear the heartbeat of Malian music pulsing in this music.

Kasse Mady Diabate is featured on the Latin-flavoured Sinaly singing about Sinaly Diarra, a Bamana king famous for resisting forced Islamisation in the 19th century. Kele Magni is a duet between Amy Sacko and Khaira Arby from Timbuktu, calling for peace in Mali. Zoumana Tereta praises the cotton farmers of Mali in Mali Koori with a voice that takes you back into the time of the great Bambara warriors. Jama ko also features an incredible duet between Bassekou and Taj Mahal (vocals / electric guitar) and ends with the touching song Moustafa by Bassekou’s son Moustafa dedicated to his parents thanking them for all they have done for him.

Howard Bilerman (Arcade Fire, Hotel 2 Tango) recorded the album in Mali and ended up mixing and co-producing most of it back home in Montreal. Andrew Barr (Barr Brothers) and Max Weissenfeldt (Poets of Rhythm) added drums. Mocky Salole (Feist, Jamie Lidell) contributed to the production and played organ and drums.

Jama ko digital single out now 19 November 2012
Jama ko album out in the UK on 28 January 2013
Live in the UK: 26 January 2013 - Barbican, London + 27 January - Glasgow Royal Concert Hall as part of Celtic Connections (Sahara Soul triple bill with Tamikrest and Sidi Touré)


Watch preview video:
http://youtu.be/lfU4rxQL4Dw


Jama Ko
SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/outhererecords/bassekou-kouyate-ngoni-ba-jama
YouTube: http://youtu.be/lfU4rxQL4Dw

Bassekou Kouyate online:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bassekoukouyate
Twitter: @Bassekou http://twitter.com/Bassekou
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/bassekoukouyate

Out Here Records online:
http://www.outhere.de
http://www.outhere.de/jamako

Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba - Jama ko (Single - Song for Peace)

DEBADEMBA - Nousso Dia (from new album Souleyman to come in 2013)

Mit seiner Ngoni-Laute hat sich der malische Musiker Bassekou Kouyate aufgemacht, das Repertoire seines Grossvaters Bazoumana Sissoko, neu zu vertonen. «Jama Ko» heisst sein neues, drittes Album. Aufgenommen wurde es im März 2012 in Bamako, während vor dem Studio das Militär gegen die malische Regierung putschte. Gewehrschüsse fielen, und Bassekou Kouyate war auf einen Schlag nicht mehr «bloss» Musiker. Ein Podcast von norient.com. von Thomas Burkhalter

Bassekou Kouyaté, «Jama Ko», Podcast von norient.com

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