Bassekou Kouyate: New Album Preview

Grammy-nominated ensemble Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba have confirmed the release of their brand new album, Jama Koon 28 January 2013. The perfect treat to beat those January blues! 

Tha band's last album I Speak Fula was a huge hit and earned them a Grammy nomination. Bassekou is famed for his revival of the ngoni,which he achieved via the construction and employment of larger models of ngoni in his ensemble alongside the smaller more common sizes of the traditional instrument. It was a novel idea, but it was also very old – the rulers of precolonial Segu sometimes had bands of up to thirty or forty ngoni players, all playing together. 

The new album is titled Jama Kowhich means 'a big gathering of poeple'. It is a call for unity, peace and tolerance in a time of crisis: no matter who you are, let us come together and enjoy life, and celebrate the true spirit of Mali. Particularly poignant at the moment admist the political turmoil and concern for the music industry in Mali. The recording of Jama ko took place in March 2012 in Mali's capital Bamako. It was recorded with an entirely new line-up including Bassekou's two sons Madou and Moustafa Kouyate, ngoni ace Abou Sissoko and a number of other young talented musicians from Bamako. 

The single 'Jama Ko' is out now and can be heard on the SoundCloud player below.