Tag: Bamako

Super Rail Band – Foliba (Mali, 1983, RCAM)

For today, I wanted to share with you “Foliba“, an instant feel good Mandingo track from the legendary Malian band “Super Rail Band” (formerly named “Orchestre Rail Band du Buffet Hotel de la Gare de Bamako“), led by the singer and guitarist Djelimady Tounkara and including great other artists such as Salif Keita, Mory Kante & Tidiani Kone – Enjoy !

Super Rail Band – Foliba

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/3jRpVvN3M34

Have a nice Wednesday !

Armand de Preseau

Moussa Doumbia – Samba (Mali, 1980, Sacodis)

Samba” is a very well known West-African traditional folk song from the Wassoulou area (situated between Ivory Coast,Guinea and Mali).

This song talks about Samba, a young and unlucky taxi driver from Conakry (Guinea) who fall in love with one of his customers. He steals the earings of the girl to see her again, but the father of the girl finds out the craftiness of the young Samba and casts out the boy. After many adventures, everything goes finally in order when Samba asks the girl in marriage.

Several covers of this song, in differents musical styles, were recorded from the 70s to the 80s, to traditional from afro rock and funk way.

For today, I wanted to share with you one of my favorite version of this classic song, interpreted here in a raw Afro Funk way by the Malian James Brown Moussa Doumbia – Enjoy !

Moussa Doumbia – Samba

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/TwGuTJmvNJ4

Have a nice day !

Armand de Preseau

Ali Farka Touré – Ali Aoudy (Mali, 1984, Disques Esperance)

Father of the “Desert Blues” genre, Ali Farka Touré was a very well known Malian artist (considered as one of the greatest African guitar player ever), who recorded many albums during his life (his last from 2005, “In the Heart of the Moon“, recorded with Toumani Diabate won a Grammy award) and who collaborated with many national & international artists.
Ali Farka Touré died in 2006 in Bamako at the age of 67.
For today, I wanted to share with you “Ali Aoudy“, a bewitching Afro Desert Blues track from this legendary guitarist, Malian answer to the American bluesman John Lee Hooker – Close your eyes, and enjoy !

Ali Farka Touré – Ali Aoudy

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/IwjDmO1jfmg

Have a nice sunny sunday !

Armand de Preseau

Idrissa Soumaoro et l’Eclipse de l’I.J.A – Nissodia (Mali, 1978, Eterna)

For today, I wanted to share with you a legendary Malian record out in 1978 on ETERNA, a German based label from Idrissa Soumaoro and the German association “L’Eclipse de l’Institut des Jeunes Aveugles” (I.J.A.) (Blind teenagers institute).

This record was produced at the time by the German association that took care of blind Malian teenagers in Bamako, and it was never properly released commercially.

This is the first record on which were revealed three future huge names of the Malian music : Idrissa Soumaoro, Amadou Bagayoko and Mariam Doumbia (the well known Malian musical couple “Amadou & Mariam“, who got married together later, but that’s another story..).

The track presented here, “Nissodia” (that could be translated in English by “Joy Of Optimism“), is a pure gem, 8min long feel-good blend of furious guitars, psychedelic organ parts & celestal voices – Enjoy !!

Idrissa Soumaoro et l’Eclipse de l’I.J.A – Nissodia

You can also listen to it on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/aVKG8-DFROk

Best regards,

Armand de Preseau

Les Ambassadeurs Internationaux – Mandjou (Mali, 1978, Badmos)

For today, I wanted to share with you “Mandjou“, an timeless classic deep Afro Jazz track recorded in 1978 by Salif Keita & his band “Les Ambassadeurs Internationaux“,  founded in 1977 after the split of the original band “Ambassadeurs du Motel” – Enjoy !

Les Ambassadeurs Internationaux – Mandjou

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/V9ixuRovsSU

Have a nice sunday evening,

Armand de Preseau

Orchestre Rail Band – Moko-Diolo (Mali, 1973, RCAM)

Following to this post, i wanted to share with you for today “Moko-Diolo“, a powerful Afro Jerk Funk track taken from the second single released in 1973 by the Malian orchestra “Orchestre Rail Band” from this band that Salif Keita, Mory Kanté & Tidiani Koné were part of – Enjoy !

State-sponsored by the national railroad Malian Company (it explains the name of the band), Le Rail Band was the most powerful Malian orchestra, that released more than ten LP’s and many 7′ from the 70’s to the late 80’s.
The Rail Band’s leader was the great Tidiani Koné, an outstanding musician who was also a griot (a kind of religious leader/ influent personality), who decided to give his chance at this time to a young albino singer, Salif Keita, that would become world famous in the future.

Orchestre Rail Band – Moko-Diolo

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube channel here : https://youtu.be/XHzR4n0OLIU

Best regard,

Armand de Preseau

Tidiani Kone Et le T.P. Orchestre Poly Rythmo de Cotonou – Djanfa Magni (Benin, 1977, Albarika Store)

Another Afrobeat / Soukous hit track by Le Tout Puissant Orchestre Poly Rythmo de Cotonou !!
Horns are played by the Malian musician Tidiani Kone, the bandleader, founder and member of l’Orchestre Super Rail Band du Buffet Hotel Del La Gare De Bamako (Mali), it explains the similarities in the trumpet playing between this track and “Mouo Dilo“, by the Super Rail Band.

The title of this awesome track, “Djanfa Magni“, can be translated in those words : “Betrayal isn’t good” – undoubtedly true, right ? 

Tidiani Kone Et le T.P. Orchestre Poly Rythmo de Cotonou – Djanfa Magni
 You can also listen to this track on my Youtube channel here : https://youtu.be/-SvgyE2xsw0
Best regards,
Armand

Orchestre Rail Band – Marabayasa (Mali, 1973, RCAM)

Hi everyone !
Today, I decided to make you (re)discover one of the great African Orchestra, from the Mystical country of Mali : L’Orchestre Rail Band du Buffet Hotel de la Gare de Bamako, also nicknamed Le Rail Band.
State-sponsored by the national railroad Malian Company (it explains the name of the band), Le Rail Band was the most powerful Malian orchestra, that released more than ten LP’s and many 7′ from the 70’s to the late 80’s.
The Rail Band’s leader was the great Tidiani Koné, an outstanding musician who was also a griot (a kind of religious leader/ influent personality), who decided to give his chance at this time to a young albino singer, Salif Keita, that would become world famous in the future.
Here is the track “Marabayasa” (Mariba Yasa or Marba Yassah), an outsanding track taken from the first album of the band, driven by Mamadou Bagayoko‘s devastating drums, Alfred Coulibaly‘s savage saxophone and Salif Keita‘s holy voice – Enjoy !

Orchestre Rail Band – Marabayasa

You can also listen to this track on my Youtube channel here : https://youtu.be/BCBM6XDi9HI

Take care,

Armand

Picture Artwork from my friend Faud from Les Mains Noires

International Soleil Band – Ta Lassa (Mali, 1983, West African Music)

The International Soleil Band was a bunch of Malian and Guinean musicians who recorded a unique album in 1983 on the French based label “WAM“.

Ta Lassa“, the song presented today, is a track I always play in club and parties, groovy as hell, a blend of traditionnal rhythms, syncoped guitar riffs and nervous organ solo parts that sounds a bit like a tropical Giorgio Moroder recording – Enjoy !

International Soleil Band – Ta Lassa

You can also listen to this track on my Youtube channel here : https://youtu.be/QGH_asQTcVI

Best regards,

Armand

Sali Sidibe – Delygueleman (Mali, 1982, Polydisc)

Let’s travel to Mali this time with the beautiful voice of Sali Sidibe, female answer to the great Malian blues musician Ali Farka Touré.

Sali Sidibe recorded a few albums and cassettes between the late 70s and the 90s, and was the leader of the Kamalein N’Gomi musical genre.

On this album, she is accompanied by Madou Traoré (Guitar) and Molobali Bakayoko (Zither).

I decided to make you rediscover “Delygueleman“, a splendid deep acoustic song with a groove about the family and the good-byes – Enjoy !

Sali Sidibe – Delygueleman

You can also listen to it on my Youtube channel here : https://youtu.be/KFArdSeKxBs

Have a nice week !

Armand