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CD Review
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Dirty Linen, CD Review >>
American musicians have explored the African roots of the banjo before, and collaborations between Malian musicians and those from the West have become common-place in recent years. Unlike some of these one-off collaborations, Stone and Sissoko have known each other for several years -- Stone spent seven weeks traveling through Mali absorbing the African roots of the banjo, and Sissoko ultimately migrated to Canada with his family.
The overall tone of the disc is Malian, with most of the compositions sung and/or written by Sissoko, but the Western musicians show a feel for the relaxed yet complex grooves of the music, with Stone nimbly weaving his banjo figures throughout Sissoko's kora arpeggios. On "Tree to Tree," Sissoko and Malian vocalist Katenan Dioubate trade vocals and harmonize while guest fiddler Casey Driessen blends African, Mississippi Delta, and European influences into his playing. The uptempo "Djula" has more of a West African feel, with the ensemble augmented by the trumpet of producer David Travers-Smith. Although the ensemble takes a run at the traditional "June Apple," there's not a lot of Appalachia in this disc, but it is a great example of master musicians really listening to one another, exploring new territories rather than just searching for common ground.
By Michael Parrish 04/01/09 >> go there
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