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The Mande Variations
 
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The Mande Variations

~ Toumani Diabate
4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
Price: £6.08 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
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The Mande Variations + New Ancient Strings + Kaira
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Product details

  • Audio CD (25 Feb 2008)
  • Number of Discs: 1
  • Label: World Circuit
  • ASIN: B0011OJPT6
  • Other Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 1,919 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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    #7 in  Music > World & Folk > African

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Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or view the MP3 Album.

Samples
Song Title Time Price
Listen  1. Si Naani10:31Album Only
Listen  2. Elyne Road 8:50£0.69
Listen  3. Ali Farka Toure 6:20£0.69
Listen  4. Kaounding Cissoko 6:27£0.69
Listen  5. Ismael Drame 5:45£0.69
Listen  6. Djourou Kara Nany 6:53£0.69
Listen  7. El Nabiyouna 6:03£0.69
Listen  8. Cantelowes 6:57£0.69

Product Description

Songlines magazine, April/May 2008 (issue #51

Toumani Diabaté is today for the kora (harp-lute) what Ravi Shankar was for the sitar 40 years ago - not just the outstanding virtuoso of his generation but a musician with the visionary genius to exert a profound influence far beyond world music. Just as Shankar influenced George Harrison and others, Toumani has already made an impact on the music of Björk, Damon Albarn and those at the more adventurous end of the rock spectrum.
If the album title was chosen to echo Bach's Goldberg Variations, it's a good analogy, for there's a courtly grace and elegance to these eight long, solo instrumental pieces. The effect is meditative - this is music for the head. And yet there is rhythm, too, of an astonishingly subtle complexity, although you'd have trouble dancing to it. Some have found the music's intricate, dignified counterpoint too austere to maintain concentration. Repeated listening pays dividends however - there's a voluptuousness in Toumani's endlessly varying contours of interdependent melody, harmony and rhythm that is quite engrossing. How a solo instrument recorded without overdubs can sound so lush and layered is remarkable - once again, Shankar comes to mind. Nor has the general seriousness of purpose dimmed Toumani's sense of fun - I am indebted to fellow music critic John Mulvey for pointing out that the opening phrases of `Cantelowes' are a playful quotation from The Good, The Bad & The Ugly, a little riff Toumani picked up from Bassekou Kouyaté while recording his Djelika album back in 1995. This is a heroic record in every sense.
Nigel Williamson


Jazzwise, (Jane Cornwell), March 2008

(4 stars) Diabate has created a modern classic, a benchmark of traditional African music by a maestro in his prime.
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Customer Reviews

11 Reviews
5 star:
 (9)
4 star:
 (2)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
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Average Customer Review
4.8 out of 5 stars (11 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A modern masterpiece of Malian music., 13 Mar 2008
By Jazzrook (Purbrook , Hampshire) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   
Toumani Diabate is a Malian master of the kora(a 21-stringed West African harp). 'The Mande Variations' is only his second solo album although Toumani has been a guest of various artists such as Ali Farka Toure('In The Heart of the Moon'), Bjork('Volta'), Taj Mahal('Kulanjan') and Roswell Rudd('Malicool'-see my review).
This beautifully recorded acoustic album is a masterpiece of traditional African music which should appeal to a wide audience and deserves to be a strong contender for World Music record of 2008.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Very good, but not his best, 29 Jul 2008
By fact junky (London, UK) - See all my reviews
Unlike New Ancient Strings and Kaira, on which every track is superb, this latest album has a couple of less strong, meandering improvisations that really demonstrate nimbleness of fingers rather than great musicianship. If you are already a fan, definitely buy it, but if this is your first, I'd recommend New Ancient Strings or Kaira.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Warning - highly addictive, 14 Jun 2008
By Friederike Knabe (Ottawa, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
Toumani Diabaté, the kora guru of Africa, has outdone himself with this collection of solo instrumental pieces. The virtuosity in fingering the kora, the richness of the rhythms and range of melodies is unmatched by anything this Malian musician has done previously. I enjoyed his earlier solo collection, "Kaira", produced twenty years ago and his "New Ancient Strings" (1999), with which he and the younger Ballake Sissoko paid homage to their fathers' musical genius. Yet now, with this CD he has reached a level of maturity, depth and musicality not previously achieved. For fans of the West African kora, this is a must in their collection; for the "newbies", this is a great introduction into a mesmerizing aspect of Malian music and treat to enjoy over and over again. It will very likely become addictive. This is music to lose yourself in, over and over again.

Toumani Diabaté comes from a long line of Malian musicians. His father was the most famous kora player of his time and Toumani often pays credit to him through his music. Nonetheless, the younger Diabaté has refined the abilities of the instrument and enriched the playing techniques over the years. Elements of these could already be detected in the award winning In The Heart of the Moon, a collaboration with the legendary guitarist, the late Ali Farka Touré. Toumani, being largely self-taught, has been open to experimenting with this traditional instrument, without abandoning its unique sound and complex harmonies. As he traveled the world, he absorbed and learned from other musical cultures, such as Indian classical music, flamenco and blues. The compositions on this CD harmoniously integrate such influences with melodies and rhythms of the past. All are his, or presented in his adaptation. Soft melodies that seem to tell gentle stories alternate with more vivacious and energetic pieces. Not surprisingly, a special homage is included for Ali Farka that he would have treasured. Toumani's extraordinary technical skill lets him expand the fingering to incorporate the bass line as an accompaniment creating the impression that two koras are playing. Furthermore, recently Toumani has been experimenting, successfully as the pieces here exemplify, with two differently strung koras, one for the traditional melodies and harmonies, the other for his more "modern" compositions. The photos in the included booklet show the details of the finger settings. The explanations of the background to the two kora stringings and insights into the stories behind each piece are written by the musician himself. A beautiful gift to yourself or for people you care deeply about. [Friederike Knabe]
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars sublime
It's so easy to get caught up in the beauty of the kora sound - and this guy is arguably the best kora player around - and buy up all of Toumani Diabate's work. Read more
Published 6 months ago by ian russell

5.0 out of 5 stars No better way to treat yourself
I treated myself to 'The Mande Variations' for Christmas, tacked on to my presents-order, just in case I didn't receive anything to listen to. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Christopher Chambers

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, just brilliant
If you do not want the hair on your neck to stand up and goosebumps to appear on your arm then don't buy it, because this CD is truly brilliant. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Gordon White

5.0 out of 5 stars a master at work
I bought this as part of the run up to the 2008 WOMAD and I am so glad that I did. This is a work of great virtuosity that transports me to another world. Read more
Published 15 months ago by David A. Smith

5.0 out of 5 stars A gentle bolt from heaven
I was a complete newcomer to this man and his music until, when sat watching all the latest Arcade Fire soundalikes on Jools' 'Later' one night found myself completely transfixed... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Mr. I. Stephen

5.0 out of 5 stars serious music for all serious music lovers
The playing is faultless reminds me, with its interweaving of melodies, of Keith Jarret and his Koln Concerts. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Steve N

5.0 out of 5 stars The Mande Variations - Toumani Diabate
This is quite quite beautiful.... A gorgeous thing.... A masterpiece of musical virtuosity.... Listeners should check out "In the heart Of the Moon" (recorded with Ali Farka... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Mr. G. Vranjkovic

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect virtuosity
I have come late to this kind of West African instrumental music. The Mande Variations is a masterpiece and highly accessible. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Michael T. Isaac

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