Keita, Seckou / 22 Strings
Album: 22 Strings   Collection:World
Artist:Keita, Seckou   Added:Jun 2016
Label:Arc Music Inc.  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2016-06-27 Pull Date: 2016-08-28 Charts: Reggae/World
Week Ending: Aug 28 Aug 21 Aug 14 Aug 7 Jul 31 Jul 24 Jul 17 Jul 10
Airplays: 1 1 1 4 1 2 1 3

Recent Airplay
1. Mar 18, 2023: Music Casserole
Mikhi Nathan Mu-Toma (The Invisible Man)
4. Jun 21, 2018: Melange
Mikhi Nathan Mu-Toma (The Invisible Man)
2. Aug 20, 2022: Music Casserole
Future Strings In E
5. Mar 22, 2018: Melange
Mande
3. May 28, 2022: Music Casserole
Future Strings In E, The Path From Gabou
6. Jul 27, 2017: melange
Future Strings In E, Mande

Album Review
Margy Kahn
Reviewed 2016-06-22
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

Track Listing
1. The Path From Gabou   6. Kana-Sila
2. N'doke (Little Bro)   7. Tatono
3. Mikhi Nathan Mu-Toma (The Invisible Man)   8. Mande
4. If Only I Knew   9. Abdou N'diaye
5. Alpha Yaya   10. Future Strings In E