Young Malian guitarist Vieux Farka Toure, son and musical heir of the late, legendary Ali Farka Toure, has done something remarkable in his eponymous debut CD. He springs onto the scene with a fresh, confident take on Malian sub-Saharan blues while seamlessly and lovingly honoring the tradition in which his father raised him (his father, along with kora master Toumani Diabate, appears on the disc). Vieux drives his compelling songwriting with youthful energy, bouncy tempos, and the finely filligreed, crystalline guitar picking he absorbed from his father. However, Vieux clearly does not feel constrained by the past he honors. His compositions are flavored by more Western touches than his father's songs, like the perfect reggae groove and spare horns of "Ana." On "Wosoubour," Vieux cuts loose, playing both rhythm and lead guitars, calabash, and percussion, all while singing truth to power. And while Aii Farka Toure's "Talking Timbuktu," recorded in 1992 with Ry Cooder, enjoyed plenty of radio attention, Vieux's "Courage" could be an even bigger hit once word gets out. The track is mesmerizing and multilayered, with a vocal delivery to rival Salif Keita in intensity and a groove to make Peter Gabriel drool. This is a young musician with plenty to say. (World Village, www. worldvillagemusic.com)

By Danny Carnahan