22 Strings

Virtuoso Senegalese kora player Seckou Keita uses his traditional 22 string kora or African harp to weave extraordinary rhythms and melodies; album won 2016 Songlines Music Award for Africa & Middle East. The sound of the kora has lovely resonance the way he plays it. Fantastic recording!

No FCC issues; Favorite tracks 1, 3, 6, 8,10

*1- 4:37 – The Path from Gabou – three bass note motif woven with chords; quietly insistent; intricate; name signifies journey to past African kingdom

2-5:50 – N'doke (Little Bro) – faster, repetitive in a good way; heavy duty plucking on this one

**3-6:38 – (The Invisible Man) – fountain of arpeggios and ornaments begins this exquisite piece; bass line keeps rhythm

4 - 4:22 – If Only I Knew – lyrics give words of wisdom from Keita's grandfather; singer plus chorus

5 – 4:50 - Alpha Yaya –traditional tune about a Fulani tribesman

*6 – 3:50 – Kana-Sila --”Don't Be Afraid” – vocals plus kora-- sweet and heartfelt

7 – 6:11 – Tatono – Gambian and Malian touches to this style of kora playing – “don't leave, grandfather”-- mellow, contemplative

**8 – 4:25 – Mande – starts with big treble splash, very upbeat and sunny with lyrics about his ancestors in Mandinka who were kings

9 – 2:47 – Abdou N'diaye -traditional song for Wolof ruler – more bass lines with damped strings

**10 – 6:49 –Future Strings in E – almost classical virtuosity with bass line and arpeggios; intense