Toumani & Sidiki

Toumani Diabaté, the most famous exponent of that majestic west African instrument, the kora, can trace his griot musical ancestry back 71 generations. Now he brings in the 72nd – his son Sidiki (who, in another life, is beatmaster in a popular Malian hip-hop duo) for a set of instrumental duets recorded in London with the expert World Circuit team in full attendance. After little or no rehearsal, the two koras begin a courtly dance, circling, embellishing, leaving space for glistening solo runs. As the improvisations deepen, the strings ripple and glide, roll, tumble and swing in a glorious interplay that entrances the head and gladdens the heart. It's another masterclass from Toumani; the duo's National Concert Hall gig in June will be one to savour. worldcircuit.co.uk
Download: Bagadaji Sirifoula, Lampedusa, A.C.I. 2000 Diaby