Track Listing

1. Dagna
2. Dounuya
3. Tunga
4. Iarsidan
5. Soutoukou
6. Mamadou Diawara
7. Djanjo
8. Djelimory
9. Mande

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #149858 in Music
• Released on: 2000-02-15
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

Amazon.com
Son of kora virtuoso Djelimory Diabate and cousin to Toumani Diabate, 25-year-old Mamadou Diabate steps into his own here on Tunga ("Adventure"). It's a strong debut with interpretations of 13th-century African music shaped by contemporary hands. Diabate, who resettled in New York, invites not only African expatriate friends but also noted jazz bassist Ira Coleman to accompany him. Their collaboration is a pleasantly gentle but still intriguing mix of Malian music. On "Dounuya," Chicago-style blues somehow floats into the lovely African landscape, and though "Dagna" is an original composition, Coleman's acoustic bass work blurs the line between bebop and Malian court music. And ancient Malian court music dominates this collection, whether through classic songs portrayed with modern elements or adaptations of Manding standards. Balafon gently chimes in with its woody, teardrop tones on a handful of tracks, and the vocals of Abdoulaye Diabate on "Dounuya" and "Mamadou Diawara" add a distinctly Malian narrative. The overall beauty of Tunga is in its ability to explore the future while staying true to its roots; Diabate may be living in New York, but fortunately his heart's still in Africa. --Karen K. Hugg

Customer Reviews

Incredible musicianship fuels TUNGA
This cd is superb. Mamadou plays his instrument, the kora a 21-stringed harp, with tremendous dexterity and feeling. If you like kora music you will love this recording, and if you haven't yet heard the kora...TUNGA is a great place to start!

New Doors Opened!
Last night I experienced the music of Mamadou Diabate. The music and sounds that eminated from his Kora had me seated in awe as I listened and watched wholeheartedly to this wonderful musician. I would recommend this CD to anyone.

As good as it gets
Diabate is the master of the kora, essentially a 21-stringed harp made out of a giant gourd or pumpkin. To see him live and watch his fingers barely move across the strings is to see genius at work. He's a hulk of a man, standing at around 6'7", and his hands are huge, but the delicate way he plucks the strings brings to mind the classic Gentle Giant. This is beautiful music, sometimes soft and gentle, sometimes blazing and incendiary, always wonderful.