Track Listing

1. Lam Tooro
2. Loodo
3. Muudo Hormo
4. Salminanam
5. Maacina Tooro
6. Djam Leelii
7. Bibbe Leydy
8. Sehilam
9. Kettodee
10. Ko Wone Mayo
11. Daande Lenol
12. Taara

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #88042 in Music
• Released on: 1998-11-03
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

Amazon.com's Best of 1998
Recorded in 1982 and originally released in 1984, Djam Leelii reappears in 1998 with all its graceful glory intact--and a little added on. Adorned with three previously unheard remastered tracks from the original sessions, this atmospheric masterpiece is carried along by the complementary voices and guitars of Baaba Maal and Mansour Seck, two of West Africa's leading lights. A sense of mystery permeates this classic of acoustic world music. --Steven Stolder

Amazon.com essential recording
After its release to wide acclaim in 1984, first on Rogue Records in the United Kingdom, and then worldwide by Mango the following year, the record slipped into oblivion. Now Djam Leelii is available again, this time with some newly mastered tracks from the original 1982 sessions. It is the soul of West Africa, a model of brilliant guitar music and as sublime an example of Senegalese musical art as ever was made. Mansour Seck and Baaba Maal have been partners in music for a long time, always experimenting, always surprising, whether it's bold pop or subtle acoustics. This is one of the latter. Primarily two guitars and two voices, Djam Leelii insinuates rather than insists. There is a slight backing of electric guitars, a hint of balafon and a variety of small percussion, just enough to prod the music along, never rushing it. Even the excess of reverb seems to be in service of the surreal atmosphere they create here. For those who love West African acoustic music, and for those who love excellent musicianship in any form, this recording is a classic. Even if you already have an earlier release of the record, these three long tracks still make a second purchase worthwhile. Mixed in a drier ambiance, they feature grittier guitar sounds, a more urgent vocal combination, and some wonderful kora and balafon work by Mamad Kouyate and Jombo Kouyate. The closing track, "Taara," is one of the most gorgeous tracks of modern acoustic Hapulaar (Fulani) music available on disc. Djam Leelii has stood the test of time, and it sustains the listener year after year. --Louis Gibson

Customer Reviews

This is Baaba's and Mansours' best album 6 STARS
This album is sublime. I have listened to it for 4 years now. It is surreal. I didn't find the beauty in this the first time I listened to it. The mesmerizing melodies found their way to my liking after repeated exposure, but then all I wanted was more. Nice sunny driving music.

Baba Maal teams up with Masour Seck in this extremely high quality live recording. The master tapes, having been lost for seven years, have been recently found and remastered to give this great album.
Highly recommended, but be patient. It is not pop. It one of those albums that will find its way to your heart by investing time. But we all know, those are the albums we keep a lifetime.

One of the all-time great albums!
Baaba Maal's voice is a unique treasure ... I have never heard anything like it... there is a metallic sheen about it that is so haunting, you can never forget it.

This is Baaba Maal's BEST album, by far, and I have heard almost every album by him. It is hard to remember an album in which I have liked every song. Maal sticks to his Fulani roots in this album, something he doesn't do in his other (and later) albums, and the result is nothing short of spectacular. Most people know Maal from his collaboration with the Screaming Orphans (Sinead O'Connor's backup band), with the result being the famous song, "Souka Naayo" ("I will follow you") and, while that song is very pretty, these songs touch something deep within you. My favorite song is "Salminaanam," but there are about five or six songs that are exceptional..."Muudo Hormo" and "Lam Tooro" come to mind immmediately.

Beyond beautiful, defies words..almost
almost, but...had to add a few words because of my love for this incredible work of art. If you have even a bit of a nomad soul this will reach out and grab yours and take it on a trip. I've listened to it until I can sing along, don't know how any mere human could have created it.