Trio da Kali and Kronos Quartet - Ladilikan

The Guardian 80

(World Circuit)

Not every project by inveterate collaborators Kronos Quartet emerges a triumph – their recent Folk Songs album is a case in point. This encounter with three outstanding Malian musicians dazzles, however, partly because the quartet hush their chamber strings and let the African trio strut their formidable stuff. There is no point crowding the voice of Hawa Diabate, whom Kronos founder David Harrington likens to the late gospel diva Mahalia Jackson, handing her a pair of Jackson’s most famous outings (in translation) to spellbinding effect, with Ladilikan featuring Lassana Diabate’s balafon pyrotechnics. Kronos’s string parts are alternately urgent and sinuous, and Nick Gold’s production has a winning vibrancy.

Sun Sep 03 07:00:37 GMT 2017

The Guardian 80

(World Circuit Records)

Kronos Quartet’s musical adventures have included an award-winning recording with Rokia Traoré, and now they return to Mali for one of their most successful collaborations to date. Trio da Kali are a young supergroup, all related to distinguished griot musicians, and the album starts with a reminder of their virtuoso skills. Hawa Diabaté’s emotional, soulful voice provides a reminder of her legendary father Kassé Mady Diabaté. She is backed on those ancient instruments, the xylophone-like balafon and bass n’goni lute, by Fodé Lassana Diabaté and Mamadou Kouyaté. Then the Quartet join in, at first with respectful playing and then with exuberant, thrilling flourishes that transform the ancient griot song Lila Bambo. Hawa had never heard of gospel music or Mahalia Jackson until persuaded to re-work God Shall Wipe All Tears Away with Bambara lyrics. The result is one of the highlights of an elegant, exquisite set.

Thu Sep 14 17:15:10 GMT 2017