1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Griot music to split your head open, February 21, 2003
This review is from: Jatigui (Audio CD)
The West African nation of Mali is home to dozens of singers whose vocal stylings appeal to listeners all over the world. Unfortunately, Tata Bambo Kouyate is not one of them. While her songs and arrangements are attractive examples of mainstream "jeli" music, of the same type sung by Ami Koita and Kandia Kouyate, Tata Bambo's crossover potential in broad American and European markets is limited by her jarring voice. I'm not kidding you, it's about as subtle as an air horn. In Mali they call her Jelimuso Fato, or "crazy griot woman," because she sings as though she were possessed by demons. And not very sonorous ones either.
This album has some great personnel on it, like Keletigui Diabate on balafon, and some great songwriting. It's just a bit hard to notice them over all the throaty screeching. If you're into Malian music, why not try recordings by other artists like Habib Koite, Oumou Sangare, or Rokia Traore? Sorry, Tata, you do not continue into the next round.
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