Guinea music reviews

Djeli Moussa Diawara (also known as Jali Musa Jawara) is a master musician and one of the leading players of the kora, the 23-string west African harp. The son of musicians, brother to Mory Kante and cousin to Kante Manfila, he has a rich heritage and a deep sense of tradition. He also has an exploratory mind. In his previous work, Sobindo, he fused electronics and various musical styles into his Manding heritage to great effect, but this new recording is a quiet, contemplative, but no less daring exploration. Don't let the title confuse you, this is not a fusion flamenco project, but an investigation into the north African music that gives rise to the Moorish music of Spain. This is an all-acoustic project, concentrating on Moussa Diawara's voice and kora. In fact, as much as it seems like there are guitars, percussion, and bass adding to the sound, this is achieved almost exclusively by the kora, a testament to the innovative technique and incredible skill of this artist. --Louis Gibson