By Ernest Barteldes

At first the late Ali Farka Toure, often dubbed "Mali's John Lee Hooker," resisted allowing his son Vieux to follow in his footsteps, insisting that he take a career in the military to spare him from the trials of an artistic career. As most rebellious children do, Vieux rebelled and set out to create his own music. His father ultimately gave him his blessing and even recorded his trademark African guitar on his son's debut disc shortly before succumbing to cancer in March 2006. That participation was, in effect, the passing of the torch to the next generation, which Vieux Farka Toure carries with both pride and honor.

No copycat, the younger Vieux's music both looks back into the tradition of Malian blues while also looking beyond the country's borders, as can be heard on "Ana," roots-reggae tune complete with a brass section. The highly emotional “Courage” -- which features amazing vocals by Issa Sory Bamba, who tears through the tune -- has a heavy funky bass and rock-inflected arrangement that could easily enter the indie rock canon if it weren't for the language barrier (all the lyrics are in Mali's native tongue). Another impressive tune is "Diallo," with lyrics that speak about a member of the "true Fulani people” who doesn't live like the country's idle rich "who does not have a fat stomach/who does not eat alone in public." The beat is constant and lends a lot of space for the late Ali Farka Toure to freely improvise in between the lyrics.

In a live setting, Vieux blends his African sound with international influences, which makes the music more palatable to Western audiences. He has incredible energy on stage, and audiences can hardly contain the urge to dance. Luckily, during this lunchtime show, listeners can be as wild as they want without any of the inhibitions of an indoor format.

July 24, Grace Building Plaza, 1114 6thAve.(at 43rd St,), 212-857-0000;22:30pm;free.