Timbuktoubab

James, Markus
Firenze Records
World | Feb 2005

Reviews

Decca
Reviewed 2005-03-03
SF-based singer/songwriter/guitarist James returns to Mali and teams up with some star performers. (Sankare on calbash/vox, Sare: violin/vox, Sidibe: n’goni (harp) & vox). Lyrics in Songhai, Bambara & English. Based in the blues but with a decidedly African flavor. I liked it all, and especially these:

1. Dark & low key blend of vocals & sounds. Cool.
2. Driving blues-based w/some great guitar.
3. Slow, spare w/a quiet sense of power.
6. Cool, lowdown blend of perc/voices/guitars.
8. Slide guitars, deep voices, a dark, lowdown sound.
13. Great world blues sound. Slow, serious.
15. Percussion/vocals in a “blues around the fire” kind of sound.
16. Birds lead into a nice jam for vox/perc/strings.

Recent airplay

Takamba Blues
Ad Hoc Variety ShowAug 30, 2018
16 Camels/Yer Man Ya Li
New World BluesDec 24, 2005
Wakin Up at Midnight/Ebina, 16 Camels/Yer Man Ya Li
No Cover, No MinimumSep 30, 2005
Mone/Jump Up and Fly
At the Cafe BohemianMay 03, 2005
Gobissa/Things We'll Never
16 Camels/Yer Man Ya Li
SonarApr 11, 2005

Charting

2005-03-06 — 2005-05-08 Reggae/World
Week EndingAirplays
May 8 1
Apr 24 1
Apr 17 2
Mar 27 1
Mar 20 2
Mar 13 2

Track listing

1. 16 Camels/Yer Man Ya Li
2. Mone/Jump Up and Fly
3. Hey Gabriel
4. Mercy/Dau
5. Koriome
6. Wakin Up at Midnight/Ebina
7. Far As I Can Run/Majirica Sa
8. Gobissa/Things We'll Never
9. All the Kingdoms/Goi Boiru
10. Let's Go
11. Break that Chain Each Day
12. There Goes Bankano
13. Takamba Blues
14. Weather Change
15. Tele/Fire at the Gate
16. Sun Is Rising