Bassekou Kouyate & Ngnoni Ba, “I Speak Fula”; produced by Lucy Doran and Jerry Boys (Sub Pop!/Next Ambiance)

Bassekou Kouyate descends from a line of griots — musicians who carry on the Malian tradition of telling ancient stories through song. The title refers to a traditional ethnic group spread across West Africa, and the language they speak. But there is nothing musty-sounding about the album; instead, it sounds as if it is built on the significance of a centuries-old history. Kouyate plays the ngoni, an ancestor of the banjo, and his picking is fabulous; check out the solo on “Musow — For Our Women.” Kouyate is joined by some of the best-known West African musicians, including Toumani Diabate and Vieux Farka Touré, as well as Amy Sacko, Kouyate's wife, as the primary vocalist.

Bassekou Kouyate and members of Ngoni Ba are featured in the Béla Fleck Africa Project concert Friday at Aspen's Wheeler Opera House.