RECORDS: N`DIARABI
MORY KANTE A PARIS
10 KOLA NUTS
AKWABA BEACH
TOUMA
NONGO VILLAGE
TATEBOLA
TAMALA
BEST OF
SABOU
1951 -
GUINEA
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On the Internet Article/Biography
On West African music
Music samples
Born and brought up in Guinea, in the Mandinka griot tradition. When he was seven years of age he was sent to Mali. There he lived with his aunt and learned to play the kora, the West African harp, and to learn about important voice traditions, some of which are necessary to become a griot.
As a 15-year-old he moved to Bamako, Mali’s capital, and became a member of Rail Band, that played in the foyer of the hotel in the train station. He played for seven years in all with Rail Band, together with, among others, Salif Keita. During this period he recorded the important album “L’exil de Sounjata”, a theme album about one of Mali’s former kings, Sounjata Keita.
In 1977 Mory Kante left for Abidjan on the Ivory Coast - an important cultural centre at that time. There he formed his own band and, together with producer Abdoulaye Soumare, began to experiment with fusion music, pulling American funk in the arrangements. They made the album “Courougnnegne”, that laid the foundations for Mory Kante's subsequent crossover releases. The disc was a success in Mali, Senegal, The Ivory Coast and the African exile contingent in Paris. Encouraged by its sales in Europe, Mory Kante went to Paris with a scaled down version of his band. In 1984 came “Mory Kante A Paris”, that established him as an artist in France, and spread the word to England and the USA. In 1988 Mory Kante had his biggest hit with “Ye Ke, Ye Ke”, a dance-worthy disco sound that hit a large part of the world with its catchy blend of kora and house-music. He followed up that success in 1990 with the album “Touma”, that still stands as a classic in Afro/Fusion music. In the 1990s he continued to develop this style, but never quite reached the level of “Touma”.
Mory Kante makes easy and catchy dance music with an African touch and this is a good place to start to orientate oneself further into the African music jungle.
Relevant artists: Sekouba Bambino
Salif Keita
Rail Band
Last Modified:
6 dec 2004
MORY KANTE A PARIS
Barclay/1984
Mory Kante’s international breakthrough. Contains the super hit “Ye Ke, Ye Ke”, that is a must in this musical connection. The rest of the disc does not reach the same heights, however. There is too much disco and drum machine for this listener. But if you are after relaxing and easy listening music, this is the thing.
This disc is so catchy and warm, possible objections that it goes too far in a Westerly or other direction fall flat. From the first song, “Korougnegne”, you can’t escape from the irresistible music. This sounds less high-tech than “Akwaba Beach”; it’s only unpretentious dance music that lets you relax with some easy, melodious songs along the way. The backing vocalist, Djanka Diabate, sings like a goddess and, on “Soumba”, Carlos Santana slips in with an enjoyable guitar solo. Not a bad song on the whole disc; perfect party music.
The follow up to the successful “Touma” continues where that left off. Here are 11 tracks of easy and swinging dance music. The basic backing is the same but the balafon (xylophone) has a more forward moving sound than before. In addition, The Hampton String Quartet and New West Horns contribute.
The disc begins sympathetically, but Mory Kante doesn’t have the power to vary the funk that, little by little, develops into a breathless march-like discomix. It improves on the tracks where Mory dares to take it easy and let the kora speak for him, as with for example “Mansa Ya”. Also, on the songs “Kissi Moba” and “Bon Jour Mon Cher”, he stops and lets the kora, xylophone and flute sound uninterrupted and rescues the album. One the whole, it’s not the worst!
This could have been a disk on the same high level of “Touma”, but is far below it. This is because of Mr. Kante’s need to “funk up” every track with the drum machine. He cannot blame the producer, either, for it is he himself who is responsible. It doesn’t seem as though he has faith in his own material for a moment, and spoils it with sharp drums that are hard on the ears. This is a damned shame, for both Mory Kante and his backing singers, Djanke Diabate still among them singing fresh and catchy and there is much good in the backing, which consists of stringed instruments and xylophone. What a waste! This is a small tragedy.
TAMALA Nextmusic/Sonodisc/2001
At last, Mory Kante has done it again! Following a few mediocre albums the man has created the best cycle of songs in 10 years. Not that he has changed the recipe very much; Mory Kante continues to make light, pop-ish and funky versions of the Mandinka music which is still his trademark. But this time it sparkles without the strenuous synthethic sound heard on his previous album, "Tatebola". It seems as if Mory Kante heeded the criticism of that release, for the sound on "Tamala" is far more organic than before. The arrangements are balanced, with well-placed use of strings on several tracks. The synthesizer can be heard on this album, too, but the funky expression is created mainly via accoustic instruments, horns, percussion and bolon, the West African bass. The tracks move well from the calm to faster dance tracks, all the while with beautiful interaction between Mory Kante and his female backing singers, Mama Keita and Oliza Zamati. On "Alamina Badoubaden" he keeps the arrangements in line with tradition and achieves a great atmosphere. On "Nin Kadi" he adopts the opposite attitude, creating a very pop-ish song with strings - a duet with Shola Ama, who even sings in English. But, as with "Touma", Mory Kante balances the overall expression and presents a magnificent album!
(Click record company for music samples.)
This compilation covers Mory Kante's production from "Akwaba Beach" in 1987 until and including "Nongo Village" from 1993. Some very fine work from Mory Kante, this.
Titles:
1. YEKE YEKE
2. BANKIERO
3. MOGO DJOLO
4. KROUGNEGNE
5. WARRA SIMA (Basil Remix)
6. MANKENE
7. TOUMA (WIMOWE)
8. DIA
9. AFRICA 2000
10. SOUMBA
11. MANSA YA
12. KISSI MOBA
Bonus Tracks:
YEKE YEKE (Hardfloor Radio Edit)
MOGO DJOLO (Extended Club Mix)
SABOU
Riverboat/World Music Network/2004
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