5/6: Ali Farka Touré and "Cinquante Six"

Our random tune for today is by the Malian guitarist and singer Ali Farka Touré. Ali Farka Touré was a Malian singer, multi-instrumentalist and one of the most renowned African musicians. His music fits right into the intersection of traditional Malian music and North American blues. Known as the "African John Lee Hooker," he sang in several African languages, and was once ranked by a panel of critics for Rolling Stone magazine at number 76 of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time and was ranked by Spin Magazine in 2012 as number 37 on the 100 Greatest Guitar Players of All Time. In 2004, he became mayor of a small town and spent his own money on improving infrastructure. He died in 2006 of bone cancer. This song, Cinquante Six, can be found on his 1992 album The Source.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Farka_Tour%C3%A9

The Sound of Mali: Ali Farka Touré and "Karaw"

Today's random tune is by the great Malian guitarist and singer Ali Farka Touré. Ali Farka Touré was a Malian singer, multi-instrumentalist and one of the most renowned African musicians. His music fits right into the intersection of traditional Malian music and North American blues. Known as the "African John Lee Hooker," he sang in several African languages, and was once ranked by a panel of critics for Rolling Stone magazine at number 76 of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time and was ranked by Spin Magazine in 2012 as number 37 on the 100 Greatest Guitar Players of All Time. In 2004, he became mayor of a small town and spent his own money on improving infrastructure. He died in 2006 of bone cancer. This song, Karaw, can be found on his 1992 album The Source.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Farka_Tour%C3%A9

Just Let It Go: Afro Celt Sound System and "Release It"

The Afro Celt Sound System, a fusion band that mixes modern electronic dance rhythms with traditional Irish and West African songs, brings us today's random song, called Release It. The Afro Celt sound System were formed by British producer Simon Emmerson and Afro-pop star Baaba Maal in 1991. Since then they've been proclaimed a world music supergroup, and have collaborated with Peter Gabriel, Sinead O'Connor, Robert Plant, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Ayub Ogada and many other pop and world stars. This song, Release It, is an instrumental that can be found on their 1999 album Volume 2: Release.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Source: http://www.afroceltsoundsystem.com/; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afro_Celt_Sound_System

Owing God: Vieux Farka Touré and "Allah Wawi"

Vieux Farka Touré brings us today's random tune, called Allah Wawi. The son of the great Ali Farka Touré, Vieux Farka Touré is a Malian singer and guitarist. He first took up guitar in secret because his father disapproved and enrolled in the National Institute of the Arts in Bamako. He released his first album in 2005 after getting permission from his father and the great Malian musician Toumani Diabaté - they also agreed to be on the album. Vieux Farka Touré plays primarily Malian music, but has also collaborated with other musicians from around the world, including Idan Raichel of Israel and Julia Easterlin, a singer/songwriter from the United States. Allah Wawi can be found on Touré's 2013 album Mon Pays.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vieux_Farka_Tour%C3%A9

Shake That Thing: Oumar Konaté and "Ayéré Yéré"

Today's tune is called Ayéré Yéré and is by Malian electric guitarist Oumar Konaté. Konaté started music at an early age, astounding his hometown of Gao with nightly performances on an old bucket, helmet and drum outside his family's home. He joined the Orchestra of Gao while in high school and accompanied them on their national tour. While in the orchestra, he was introduced to guitar. He went on to enroll in the National Institute of Arts in Bamako and recorded his first album there which brought him to the attention of many artists such as Vieux Farka Touré, Sidi Touré and Khaira Arby. He has performed in numerous festivals all over the globe, and has received accolades worldwide for his music. Ayéré Yéré can be found on his 2014 CD Addoh.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Source: http://www.clermontmusic.com/oumar-konate/

The First Word of the Q'uran: Oumar Konaté and "Bisimillah"

Today's tune is by Malian electric guitarist Oumar Konaté and called Bisimillah. Konaté started music at an early age, astounding his hometown of Gao with nightly performances on an old bucket, helmet and drum outside his family's home. He joined the Orchestra of Gao while in high school and accompanied them on their national tour. While in the orchestra, he was introduced to guitar. He went on to enroll in the National Institute of Arts in Bamako and recorded his first album there which brought him to the attention of many artists such as Vieux Farka Touré, Sidi Touré and Khaira Arby. He has performed in numerous festivals all over the globe, and has received accolades worldwide for his music. Bisimillah can be found on his 2014 CD Addoh.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Source: http://www.clermontmusic.com/oumar-konate/

Soku It Up: Ali Farka Touré and Ry Cooder with "Banga"

Today's random tune explores a common musical legacy and interests. Banga is by the great Malian guitarist and singer Ali Farka Touré and the American musician, songwriter, composer and producer Ry Cooder. Ali Farka Touré was a Malian singer, multi-instrumentalist and one of the most renowned African musicians. His music fits right into the intersection of traditional Malian music and North American blues. Known as the "African John Lee Hooker," he sang in several African languages. In 2004, he became mayor of a small town and spent his own money on improving infrastructure. He died in 2006 of bone cancer. Ry Cooder is an American producer and guitarist known for his slide guitar and his interest in roots music. He has collaborated with many musicians both from the US and abroad, and his albums have covered many different genres, including folk, blues, Tex-Mex, soul, gospel and rock among others. He also produced the worldwide hit album Buena Vista Social Club. Banga can be found on their Grammy-award winning collaboration Talking Timbuktu (1994). I believe the fiddle-like sound on this track is a soku, a Malian single string fiddle.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Farka_Tour%C3%A9;https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ry_Cooder

Golden: Ali Farka Touré and Toumani Diabaté with "Kala"

Today's song is performed by Ali Farka Touré and Toumani Diabaté. Ali Farka Touré, who died in 2006, was a multi-instrumentalist and singer from Mali renowned as one of Africa's greatest musicians, and the person who represents the intersection between Malian music and the blues. Known as the African John Lee Hooker, his playing style on guitar was similar to Hooker's blues. He sang in several African languages, and won two Grammy awards. Toumani Diabaté is a Malian kora player who not only plays traditional Malian music but also has collaborated cross-culturally in blues, jazz, flamenco and other international styles with musicians such as Björk and Taj Mahal, among others. This song, Kala, is from their Grammy Award winning album (for best traditional world music) In The Heart of the Moon (2005). The song's title refers to the name of a village in the Manding Empire known for its gold.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Farka_Tour%C3%A9; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toumani_Diabat%C3%A9

Great Collaboration: The Touré-Raichel Collective and "Kfar"

Today's random tune is a collaboration between Israeli and Malian musicians. Kfar is by the The Touré-Raichel Collective, which developed out of a chance airport meeting between singer and guitarist Vieux Farka Touré of Mali and pianist Idan Raichel of Israel. Promising to perform together, they fulfilled the promise in 2010 at the Tel Aviv Opera House. An impromptu session the day after at a recording house led to three hours of improvised musical recordings and was the birth of the collective. In 2012 they released their debut album, The Tel Aviv Session, on which Kfar appears.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tour%C3%A9-Raichel_Collective

The Source: Oumou Sangaré and "Sabu"

The Songbird of Wassoulou, Malian Oumou Sangaré performs today's random tune. A Grammy award winning singer, Sangaré is inspired by the music and traditional dances of her Wassoulou region. Her musical career began at an early age when she sang in the streets to help her mother earn money. At five years old she won a singing contest in Bamako and then performed before thousands at a local arena. Later, at 16, she toured Europe and the Caribbean with the percussion group Djoliba and her reception on that tour convinced her to start her own group. Her first album in 1990 was very successful and she caught the attention of Malian legend Ali Farka Touré, who helped her sign with a major record label. An advocate for women's rights who opposes child marriage and polygamy, her songs often have themes of love and freedom of choice in marriage. She has also used her fame and revenue to become a businesswoman who owns hotels, has launched her own car model with a Chinese firm, and agricultural ventures. She is a UN Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, and she has collaborated with musicians such as Béla Fleck and Herbie Hancock. This song, Sabu, can be found on her 1996 album Worotan, and on the 2003 greatest hits compilation Oumou.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oumou_Sangar%C3%A9

Guitar Hero: Ali Farka Touré and "Yenna"

The great Malian guitarist and singer Ali Farka Touré brings us today's song, Yenna. Ali Farka Touré was a Malian singer, multi-instrumentalist and one of the most renowned African musicians. His music fits right into the intersection of traditional Malian music and North American blues. Known as the "African John Lee Hooker," he sang in several African languages, and was once ranked by a panel of critics for Rolling Stone magazine at number 76 of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time and was ranked by Spin Magazine in 2012 as number 37 on the 100 Greatest Guitar Players of All Time. In 2004, he became mayor of a small town and spent his own money on improving infrastructure. He died in 2006 of bone cancer.  Yenna can be found on his 1992 album The Source.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Farka_Tour%C3%A9

But I Want to Samba Today: Ballaké Sissoko & Vincent Ségal with "Samba Tomora"

Today's random tune is called Samba Tomora and is performed by Ballaké Sissoko and Vincent Ségal. A well-regarded player of the kora, Malian Ballaké Sissoko is the son of renowned griot Djelimady Sissoko. Those born into the griot caste learn music a young age, and Sissoko is no exception - he taught himself kora by watching his father. He has collaborated with Toumani Diabaté, Taj Mahal, and Vincent Ségal with whom he has done three albums. Vincent Ségal, from France, is a cellist and bassist who is known for his interesting collaborations with artists as varied as Elvis Costello, Blackalicious, Cesaria Evora, Sting and others. He is also the co-founder of the down-tempo electronica band Bumcello, with which he won France's prestigious Victoires de la Musique and was named France's Electronic Musician of the Year in 2006. Samba Tomora can be found on Ballaké Sissoko and Vincent Ségal's 2015 album Musique de Nuit.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballak%C3%A9_Sissoko; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_S%C3%A9gal

Death is Terrible: Oumou Sangaré and "Saa Magni"

Oumou Sangaré performs today's random tune. A Grammy award winning Malian singer dubbed "The Songbird of Wassoulou," Sangaré is inspired by the music and traditional dances of her Wassoulou region. Her musical career began at an early age when she sang in the streets to help her mother earn money. At five years old she won a singing contest in Bamako and then performed before thousands at a local arena. Later, at 16, she toured Europe and the Caribbean with the percussion group Djoliba and her reception on that tour convinced her to start her own group. Her first album in 1990 was very successful and she caught the attention of Malian legend Ali Farka Touré, who helped her sign with a major record label. An advocate for women's rights who opposes child marriage and polygamy, her songs often have themes of love and freedom of choice in marriage. She has also used her fame and revenue to become a businesswoman who owns hotels, has launched her own car model with a Chinese firm, and agricultural ventures. She is a UN Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, and she has collaborated with musicians such as Béla Fleck and Herbie Hancock. This song, Saa Magni, can be found on her 1993 album Ko Sira (released as Bi Furu in Mali), and on the 2003 greatest hits compilation Oumou. The song is an ode to the premature death of a friend.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oumou_Sangar%C3%A9

An Ancient City: Amine Bouhafa and Fatoumata Diawara with "Timbuktu Fasso"

Today's song, Timbuktu Fasso, was written and performed by Amine Bouhafa and Fatoumata Diawara on the soundtrack to the 2014 movie Timbuktu, set during the fundamentalist Islamist takeover of that ancient Malian city. A French-Tunisian composer of film music, Amine Bouhafa began playing piano at the age of three and attended the conservatory in Tunis where he graduated with honors in at the age of twelve. He began composing music for film at the age of 15 and has provided music for short films, television and feature films. Along the way he also has obtained a degree in mathematics and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of California at Riverside. His score for the movie Timbuktu gained him many awards. Fatoumata Diawara is a Malian musician born in the Ivory Coast and currently living in France. She initially moved to France to try acting, but later took up guitar and began composing music that mixed her native Wassalou music of southern Mali with international influences. She has appeared in eight films and has released one solo album, Fatou, in 2011. She has collaborated with artists such as Bobby Womack, AfroCubism and Dee Dee Bridgewater. Timbuktu Fasso can be found on the Timbuktu Original Motion Picture Soundtrack from 2014.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Source: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amine_Bouhafa; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatoumata_Diawara

Your Family and Friends Hate Me, but I Love You: Ali Farka Touré and Ry Cooder with "Diaraby"

Exploring a common musical legacy and interests, our random song for today, Diaraby, is by the great Malian guitarist and singer Ali Farka Touré and the American musician, songwriter, composer and producer Ry Cooder. Ali Farka Touré was a Malian singer, multi-instrumentalist and one of the most renowned African musicians. His music fits right into the intersection of traditional Malian music and North American blues. Known as the "African John Lee Hooker," he sang in several African languages. In 2004, he became mayor of a small town and spent his own money on improving infrastructure. He died in 2006 of bone cancer. Ry Cooder is an American producer and guitarist known for his slide guitar and his interest in roots music. He has collaborated with many musicians both from the US and abroad, and his albums have covered many different genres, including folk, blues, Tex-Mex, soul, gospel and rock among others. He also produced the worldwide hit album Buena Vista Social Club. Diaraby can be found on their Grammy-award winning collaboration Talking Timbuktu (1994). The song is a man bemoaning that his lover's family and friends do not want him to marry her because he has nothing to give her, but he tells her not to worry and that all will be fine because he loves her.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Farka_Tour%C3%A9;https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ry_Cooder

The Source of the Blues: Ali Farka Touré and "Mahini Me"

Our song for today is by the great guitarist and singer Ali Farka Touré. Ali Farka Touré was a Malian singer, multi-instrumentalist and one of the most renowned African musicians. His music fits right into the intersection of traditional Malian music and North American blues. Known as the "African John Lee Hooker," he sang in several African languages, and was once ranked by a panel of critics for Rolling Stone magazine at number 76 of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time and was ranked by Spin Magazine in 2012 as number 37 on the 100 Greatest Guitar Players of All Time. In 2004, he became mayor of a small town and spent his own money on improving infrastructure. He died in 2006 of bone cancer.  This song, Mahini Me, can be found on his 1992 album The Source.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Farka_Tour%C3%A9

Good Golly, It's Mali: Ali Farka Touré and Toumani Diabaté with "Debe"

Today's random tune is some death core metal from Northern Europe. April Fools! Today's real song is performed by Ali Farka Touré and Toumani Diabaté. Ali Farka Touré, who died in 2006, was a multi-instrumentalist and singer from Mali renowned as one of Africa's greatest musicians, and the person who represents the intersection between Malian music and the blues. Known as the African John Lee Hooker, his playing style on guitar was similar to Hooker's blues. He sang in several African languages, and won two Grammy awards. Toumani Diabaté is a Malian kora player who not only plays traditional Malian music but also has collaborated cross-culturally in blues, jazz, flamenco and other international styles with musicians such as Björk and Taj Mahal, among others. This song, Debe, is from their Grammy Award winning album (for best traditional world music) In The Heart of the Moon (2005).

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Farka_Tour%C3%A9; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toumani_Diabat%C3%A9

Collective Bliss: The Touré-Raichel Collective and "Touré"

Our random tune for today is by the The Touré-Raichel Collective and is called Touré, featuring Frédéric Yonnet on harmonica. The Touré-Raichel Collective developed out of a chance airport meeting between singer and guitarist Vieux Farka Touré of Mali and pianist Idan Raichel of Israel. Promising to perform together, they fulfilled the promise in 2010 at the Tel Aviv Opera House. An impromptu session the day after at a recording studio led to three hours of improvised musical recordings and was the birth of the collective. French musician Frédéric Yonnet is known as "Prince's killer harmonica player" for his work with the musical icon, and he has also performed legendary harmonica duels onstage with Stevie Wonder. You can find Touré on The Touré-Raichel Collective's 2012 debut release The Tel Aviv Session.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tour%C3%A9-Raichel_Collective; https://www.fredyonnet.com/

Tribute to Women: Salif Keita and "Moussolou"

From Mali comes our random song for today, called Moussolou. It is performed by Salif Keita, an albino afro-pop singer from Mali known as "the golden voice of Africa" and a direct descendant of the founder of the Mali Empire. Cast out by his family because of his albinism (a sign of bad luck in his culture) Salif Keita moved to Bamako where he joined the renowned Super Rail Band de Bamako and then the famous Les Ambassadeurs. He moved to Paris in 1994 to reach a wider audience. In his music, he combines traditional West African styles with influences from Europe and the Americas, and uses a variety of African traditional instrumentation along with more modern instruments. He has since returned to Mali where he continues to make music and has released critically acclaimed albums. Moussolou can be found on his 2002 album Moffou.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salif_Keita; http://www.salifkeita.net/en/

What People Say: Kassé Mady Diabaté and "Ko Kuma Magni"

Today's random song is by Kassé Mady Diabaté, a singer from Mali descended from the Malian griot musical caste. Realizing that Kassé Mady may have inherited his family's musical prowess, they schooled and encouraged him. As lead singer of the Orchestre Régional Super Mandé de Kangaba, Kassé Mady won the Biennale music competition in the Malian capital of Bamako. He caught the eye of a group of Malian musicians who had gone to Cuba to study music - they asked him to join their group as lead singer. The group, the Maravillas, later known as the Bandema National, became famous throughout West Africa due to their music...Cuban style with a touch of Malian Manding. In 1988 he left Mali for Paris and recorded his first solo record - he spent ten years there and made influential albums in collaboration with other artists such as flamenco group Ketama, blues artist Taj Mahal and Toumani Diabaté, before moving back to Mali. This song, Ko Kuma Magni, can be found on his 2014 album Kiriké. The song warns about the dangers of gossip.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Source: http://www.kassemadydiabatemusic.com/