M'Bemba

Salif Keita

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 20, 2006)
• Original Release Date: June 20, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B000F3UADE
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #123,677 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > World Music > Africa > Mali

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
M’Bemba translates to "grandfather" and this perhaps reflects the artist being at a peak of maturity, suspended between two generations, old enough to know exactly who he is and young enough to do something about it. Certainly, Keita has been demonstrably experiencing a mid-life renaissance, turning out such consistently masterly work that even longtime listeners are left scrambling for superlatives. Here, he has achieved yet another peak of invention while his celebrated tenor voice has never sounded more fluid and magical. The largely acoustic back-up players are also well worth noting; guitarists Ousmane Kouyate and Kante Manfila sit in on several tracks, joining respected pros like Mino Cinelu on percussion, bassist Michel Alibo and the great Toumani Diabate on kora (West African harp.) Keita also sings with a chorale of his own sisters on the title track. Highlights would include the sprightly, syncopated "Calculer" and "Tu Vas Me Manquer", a wistful ballad. On the down side, the reverb on "Laban" is a bit high and Buju Banton’s guest turn on "Ladji" seems like an afterthought but these are extremely minor cavils. The legions of Keita’s fans who so enjoyed his Grammy-nominated Moffou should hasten to acquire this magnificent follow-up. --Christina Roden

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! Melodies, beats, great voice come together, August 11, 2006

By	Jure "Jure" (Seattle, of course!) - See all my reviews

You really don't have to understand the lyrics to be able to enjoy this cd. The music takes me on a jouney - it is calming but also very energizing in a positive way. I catch myself either tapping my foot or nodding my head side to side to most of the tracks on this cd. I've never heard of this artist, and never listened to any type of African music before. This was a random cd purchase, with a $15 gift certificate I had to burn, and just wanted something "different". Well, I got what I was looking for - and I love it!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The golden voice , July 12, 2007

By	Friederike Knabe (Ottawa, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

- admiring description given to Salif Keita's voice could not be more aptly applied to this, his most recent CD. The songs bring out his beautiful tenor set against the backdrop of the West African beat. His many years abroad have left their mark in his music combining rich harmonies with instrumentation that supports his extraordinary tonal presentation. Accompanied by a choral of his sisters and a range of acoustic and traditional instruments, he presents a good range of rhythms for his songs.

After 35 years living abroad, he has finally returned to Mali and recorded this CD in his new studios in Bamako on the shore of the Niger river. Being albino, he was rejected by his family as a bad omen. Also, as a young man intent to pursue his musical ambitions he had to leave Mali and abandon the privileges of his noble descent. As an internationally acclaimed musician, he has return to his roots.

The themes of this collection centre around love, lost or found, as well as trust and respect for the wisdom of elders. His voice is warm and deeply moving when he sings in his native Bambara with some French thrown in. For M'Bemba, the title song, he is joined by Mali's kora virtuoso Toumani Diabate, adding a soft and gentle touch to the music. M'Bemba, meaning "grandfather" speaks about the importance of the griots, the ancestral singers of families, and his own ancestor, the famed king Sundiate Keita. I would be hard pressed to choose my favourites among the songs. It is a CD that one want to listen to many times over. The pieces also make great dance music. As has been shown recently in life performances, such as in my home town, where he got everybody up from their seats and swinging and dancing the night away. [Friederike Knabe]

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Salif Keita, March 8, 2009

By	EsmeReal "EsmeReal" (Florida) - See all my reviews

This is the best album out for my favorite AfroPop star. All of the tracks are good listening, but 2/3 of them are awesome - if you like Keita and are only going to buy one album, this is the one.