Vieux Farka Toure

 

 

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Vieux Farka Toure bursts onto the music scene with a very strong performance in this debut album. Son of the legendary Ali Farka Toure, he has all the makings of a new star on Mali's rich music horizon. In this album, dedicated to his late father, Vieux combines traditional tunes and instrumentations with faster rhythms, demonstrating the energy of a younger generation. Old and new are harmoniously merged.

Most of the pieces are composed and arranged by Vieux himself, as are the lyrics. They address common themes of the importance of home, justice, family and solidarity among all sisters and brothers. His voice is reminiscent of his father's and his guitar playing is definitively moving in the same expert and creative direction that Ali exhibited for all these years.

Vieux has assembled a formidable group of musicians around him, above all his father Ali, who joined with his guitar on two pieces and Toumani Diabate, the magical kora virtuoso. One of these pieces was written by Toumani's father, the legendary kora player, Sidiki Diabate, and sensitively arranged by Vieux. "Diallo", the second piece that features Ali and son together, is a fast moving, energetic song in praise of the Fulani people. Contributing to his son's debut CD was the last recording that Ali was able to perform prior to his death. After years of discouraging his son from pursuing his musical ambitions, Ali finally came to appreciate the younger Farka Toure's talent and happily passed on his legacy. It seems that it was Toumani Diabate who convinced Ali to overcome his reluctance to accept his son's career path. Vieux had left the family compound in Niafunke, in Mali's North (near Timbuktu), to study music in Bamako. Toumani became a mentor and like a father to him. Under his guidance his music flourished. The younger Farka Toure Vieux dedicates the beautiful and gentle instrumental piece "Diabate" to Toumani and his family. "Diabate", with the harmonious musical conversation between the two solo instruments, kora and guitar, is somewhat reminiscent of the jamming sessions of Toumani and Ali in "In the Heart of the Moon".

The father's legacy that included active involvement with the economic development of the local population in the Niafunke region, also passes on to the son. He has designated ten percent of the proceeds of the CD to fight malaria through a local organization (linked to Unicef) that introduces insecticide-treated mosquito nets for children.

Fans of Mali beat and rhythm will want to add this CD to their collection, newcomers might want to use it as an entrance into the rich world of the traditional and contemporary music of this centre of African music today. [Friederike Knabe]

The king is dead, long live the king!
The great guitarist Ali Farka Touré died a year ago and, while his son, Vieux, will find it impossible to fill his shoes - particularly after Ali's sublime final album, "Savane" - he has still delivered a remarkable debut disc.
Even more remarkable is the fact that Ali initially forbade his son to follow a musical career and only accepted it later.
Ali does lend his guitar gravitas to two tracks "Tabara" and "Diallo" - some of the last recordings he made before his death - and Vieux does some sublime guitar duets with kora player Toumani Diabaté which are the highlights of the disc.
A pair of reggae and funk tracks show Vieux's younger and wider musical horizons.

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