Red Earth: A Malian Journey
Reviews
Decca
Reviewed 2007-10-03
Reviewed 2007-10-03
This Tony-winning jazz diva turns towards her roots in this jazz/world hybrid. Her tight, swinging band is joined by a host of Malian musicians, including Oummou Sangare, Toumani Diabate, and Cheick Tidan Seck. She’s one of the best female jazz singers around and the abundance of duets on this CD proves she’s got some equally talented friends. You can’t go wrong with any track.
1. Tight, rockin’ Afro-Cuban jam w/great drum breaks.
2. Kora starts this mid/upbeat bilingual duet. Great vocal journies.
3. Bright strings move this sweet Afro-jazz blend. Upbeat & growing.
4. Upbeat & drivin’ duet about mothers. Lots of jazz & a bit Africa.
5. Slow flute opens a downtempo straight-up jazz track. Soaring vox.
6. An upbeat Malian bounce until she comes roaring in w/jazz/funk.
7. Starts slow, gets mid/up. Big chorus ode to the Griots. Fabu vox.
8. A slow love song moves w/lots of Africa & a flash of Harlem.
9. Powerful downtempo jazz. Tight arrangement w/Afro-perc.
10. Down/mid Malian blues anthem about women. Drivin’
11. Starts slow, picks up into a bluesy jam. Memphis meets Mali.
12. Slow, heartbreaking song of starvation. Quiet & moving.
13. Rockin’, upbeat funk/hip hop/jazz. Is “God damn-it” an FCC?
1. Tight, rockin’ Afro-Cuban jam w/great drum breaks.
2. Kora starts this mid/upbeat bilingual duet. Great vocal journies.
3. Bright strings move this sweet Afro-jazz blend. Upbeat & growing.
4. Upbeat & drivin’ duet about mothers. Lots of jazz & a bit Africa.
5. Slow flute opens a downtempo straight-up jazz track. Soaring vox.
6. An upbeat Malian bounce until she comes roaring in w/jazz/funk.
7. Starts slow, gets mid/up. Big chorus ode to the Griots. Fabu vox.
8. A slow love song moves w/lots of Africa & a flash of Harlem.
9. Powerful downtempo jazz. Tight arrangement w/Afro-perc.
10. Down/mid Malian blues anthem about women. Drivin’
11. Starts slow, picks up into a bluesy jam. Memphis meets Mali.
12. Slow, heartbreaking song of starvation. Quiet & moving.
13. Rockin’, upbeat funk/hip hop/jazz. Is “God damn-it” an FCC?
Recent airplay
Four Women
Stand Up! for Women's History Month — Mar 10, 2026
Red Earth (Massane Cisse)
Traditions — May 27, 2025
Compared To What
Rebop — Jul 18, 2022
Four Women
Music Casserole — Feb 23, 2019
Children Go Round (Demissenw)
No Cover, No Minimum — Aug 23, 2013
Afro Blue
TGIJazz — Nov 26, 2010
Charting
2007-10-07 — 2007-12-09
Jazz, Reggae/World
| Week Ending | Airplays |
|---|---|
| Dec 9 | 2 |
| Dec 2 | 1 |
| Nov 25 | 1 |
| Nov 18 | 1 |
| Nov 11 | 2 |
| Nov 4 | 1 |
| Oct 28 | 2 |
| Oct 21 | 3 |
Track listing
| 1. | Afro Blue | ||
| 2. | Bad Spirits (Bani) | ||
| 3. | Dee Dee | ||
| 4. | Mama Don't Ever Go Away (Mama Digna Sara Ye) | ||
| 5. | Long Time Ago | ||
| 6. | Children Go Round (Demissenw) | ||
| 7. | The Griots (Sakhodougou) | ||
| 8. | Oh My Love (Djarabi) | ||
| 9. | Four Women | ||
| 10. | No More (Bambo) | ||
| 11. | Red Earth (Massane Cisse) | ||
| 12. | Meanwhile | ||
| 13. | Compared To What |