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Like a Lone Troubador at the Crossroads
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World Rhythm Magazine, Like a Lone Troubador at the Crossroads >>
By P.R. Brimstone
Boubacar Traore has traveled a long and winding road to get to where he is today and today he has a new CD out entitled "Konga Magni" on World Village Records. It is an intimate recording with Boubacar's voice and acoustic guitar at the hub. Empathetic support is provided by Vincent Bucher (Harmonica), "Pedro" Kouyate (Calabash gourd), Emile Biayenda (Percussion), Regis Gizavo (Accordion) and Keletigui Diabate (Balafon). The nine new original songs express Boubacar's realistic and somewhat pessimistic views of the world, from the feelings of jealousy in "Djonkana" to the expression of "Douina Tabolo", which is about the loss of his long time wife and the birth of his granddaughter. Ying and yang. Comparisons have been made on a spiritual level (if not musical) to America's own renowned master of the Blues, Robert Johnson. This could largely be attributed to Boubacar's "Lone Troubadour" image, which has been endured not only because of events in his own hard-luck life but by his own seemingly need to life by his own code.
Boubacar is from Kayes, Mali, in Africa. Although he came from a musical family (It was his older brother, who achieved some fame as a guitarist in the Latin-styled group, Maravilas de Mali, that first provided encouragement and a guitar) his family was not part of the griots caste, which one has to be born into. While this did not allow for privileged opportunities for performance, he was also free from the specific traditions that come along with being a griot (singing the praises of royalty, military leaders et al - elite members of society). He was allowed to freely express himself, all he had to do way to find a vehicle for that expression. With the recording industry coming to fruition in 1960's Africa, Boubabcar was able to record a song called "Malian Twist". It became a radio staple in Mali for years. Although the title might make it sound like a fun-filled tune it was really about the call to all Malians to help build up their newly, independent nation. However, this notoriety did not manifest itself in terms of making a living and after a few years he gave up his Bohemian lifestyle, decided to get a regular job, got married had a family.
In the ensuing years, living as a tailor and farmer, he and his wife had eleven children (all but six died in childhood) It was with these trials and tribulations of his own life mixed with his own troubled nation that truly sowed the seeds for his rich musical expression and the topics of his songs in later years.
Over 20 years later, in 1988, some journalists stumbled upon Boubacar and being familiar with his older recordings, convinced him to take up music again. After appearing on Radio Mali and making some new recordings his star rose again in native country and beyond. However, soon after these turn of events his wife died and Boubacar was devastated and dropped from the public eye. He left for France to earn money for his family and disappeared among the Malian expatriate community in Paris. Flash forward a few more years and once again Boubacar is convinced that the time is right to upstart his musical career. His five albums released since then have made him an in-demand performer all around the world to which he has heeded the call. His life has inspired a book about him, "Mail Blues" by Lieve Joris and a documentary retrospective directed by Jaques Sarasina and produced by Jonathan Demme to be released soon.
Although his American Blues comparisons make sense, Boubacar toils his own musical fields. Playing with bare fingers he rarely chords or strums the guitar and instead plays repetitious, melodic phrases and that unify with his vocals. The accompaniment on the harmonica or accordion do the same and the light percussion keeps the intimate groove moving along. Boubacar's voice ralery goes into a full cry, perfering to stick to the lower registers making one almost have to lean in to hear what he is singing. And like all true musical magicians he makes you DO want to HEAR. 11/07/05 >> go there
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