New Ancient Strings

Ballake Sissoko, Toumani Diabate

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 22, 1999)
• Original Release Date: June 22, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Hannibal
• ASIN: B00000JFRU
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #12,709 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  #3 in	Music > Indie Music > World Music > Africa
  #13 in	Music > World Music > Africa > Mali

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Back in the early '70s, a recording by kora masters Sidiki Diabate and Djelimadi Sissoko called Cordes Anciennes first brought this rich acoustic music of Mali to the world. More than 20 years later, their sons, the now world-famous Toumani Diabate and the junior Ballake Sissoko, have come together to pay tribute to their fathers with 1999's New Ancient Strings. While many of the songs come from the original repertoire, the music is all modern Mali. Toumani Diabate has toured the world as a soloist, as a member of fusion groups like Songhai (with flamenco fusionist Ketama), and he has incorporated subtle changes into his music that makes it a living affirmation of the strength of the ancient harp of Africa. Together Diabate and Sissoko explore their fathers' roots while traveling their own new routes. This is the first all-acoustic kora recording Diabate has done since his stunning Kaira, released more than 10 years prior to New Ancient Strings, and it shows a mature and forward-looking artist that would make the elder Diabate proud. --Louis Gibson

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A star on the world music scene, August 30, 2001

By	Joanna Daneman (Middletown, DE USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

New Ancient Strings introduced me to the kora, a 21-string, traditional African harp-lute from the ancient land of Mali in Africa. It is a cross between a harp and a lute (and the lute, of course, is African in origin as well.) It has the softness of a lute, the tuneful note range of a harp and the gentle, plucked sound of both instruments. I really like it! It's exotic, yet not strange or hard to listen to.
Toumani Diabate is a reknown kora master, and this all-intrumental album is pleasing in every respect. The sound is foreign (to American ears) but immediately accessible. Because there is no singing, if you are new to world music, you will find this a charming introduction to a new land of music.

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enchanting plucked strings from the land of Timbuktu, May 3, 2002

By	Joanna Daneman (Middletown, DE USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

This is an album of music played on the kora, a "harp-lute" with 21 strings in two parallel rows. Toumani Diabate is the world's formost kora player, from Mali--a musically rich land in Africa. He plays here in a duo with Ballake Sissoko, a longtime friend and musical associate. There is nothing else on this album--just the two koras. The sound is utterly captivating.

At first, you might feel that the songs are somewhat similar to each other. But the pleasant plucking sounds certainly had me listen again and again. I then noticed the jazzy sound of the first cut "Bi Lambam" This is a song that dates back to dancing girls and musicians in the court of the kingdom of Mali and it doesn't take much imagination to see cool, shaded stone courts and gently twirling dancers and their seated musician accompanists, entertaining a king and his courtiers. However, Diabate plays a contemporary style and this accounts for the hint of a modern jazz mood in some of the songs.

My favorite cut, however, is the second one on the album "Salaman" which is a love song and is so mysterious and haunting. The minor key and rocking rhythm are hypnotic.

This album was recorded live at the Palais de Congres in Bamako, Mali. The marble hall lends that "palace of ancient kings" sound and this is a live album, recorded in one take, which always lends a sense of intimacy and reality to any recording.

This album is great for relaxation, party or dinner background music, yoga or for relaxing kids before bed. It is also just great to put on any old time and feel, perhaps, like a courtier in the exotic palaces of old Timbuktu. The album grows on you. I just love it.

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful music, superb performance, November 19, 1999

By	Jan Gudell "j-gudell" (Chicago) - See all my reviews

It's hard to find fault with anything about this recording. The playing is brilliant, the sound quality is exceptional and the music is sublime. It's like Debussy transplanted to Africa and played on indigenous harps with healthy doses of inventive soloing. This is the most refreshing recording I've heard in a long time, regardless of musical genre.