Though he recorded for over a decade before breaking through in Europe and America, Malian guitarist Ali Farka Toure (1939-2006) became one of the world's most famous African musicians, hailed for his authenticity and for linking American blues back to their Africa roots. Ali Toure came from the Songhai people, in the Malian region of the arid Sahel. A self-taught musician, he performed in song competitions and cultural exhibitions in the 1960s and '70s, and recorded his own music while working at Radio Mali and released a string of late 'Seventies albums in France that were eventually discovered by "world music" DJs in the United Kingdom, inspiring the UK-based World Circuit label to sign Toure as one of their premiere artists. Known also for his collaborative spirit, Ali Farka Toure worked with fabled American roots musicians Ry Cooder and Taj Mahal, but also used his own fame to help elevate numerous other African artists. His son, Vieux Farka Toure, also is a recording artist, starting his career working with his father before Ali Farka's untimely death in 2006. Here's a quick look at Ali Farka Toure's work...

Ali Farka Toure "Radio Mali" (World Circuit/Nonesuch Records, 1999)
Though I'm not actually that huge a fan of Ali Farka Toure's best-known albums, even I have to admit I enjoyed this collection of his early works a lot. This treasure trove collects the best of his 1970-78 recordings at Radio Mali, music that he sent off to for years French producers before finally getting a contract with the Sonodisc label in Paris. Among other treats, this disc includes all the songs from his first album, along with other tracks he made while working as an engineer at Mali's national radio station. What I hear in these earlier recordings is a sense of unsureness, an eagerness to succeed, without being sure how far his efforts will take him -- which comes off as much more endearing than his later status as a "world music legend." There's something to be said for going back to the roots -- even of a great roots musician. Highly recommended.

Ali Farka Toure "Les Meilleurs De Farka: Le Grand Songhoue (2003)

Ali Farka Toure "Red & Green" (Nonesuch Records, 2005)
Fans of Malian guitarist Ali Farka Toure may rejoice at this double-disc reissue of two of his best-known albums, known by fans as the "Red" and "Green" records, originally released in 1979 and 1988, his last album for Sonodisc Records, and his first for World Circuit. Remarkably, neither of these albums had been previously reissued, despite their status as "world music" landmarks that helped bring Malian music into the global mainstream. What's striking about both of these records is their rawness. Toure is often cited as a living link between West African traditions and American blues music, and on many of his records, particularly the later ones, he accentuated these crosscurrents and similarities, often to a degree that could be seen as overly stylized or formulaic. On the "Red" album in particular, however, Toure's meandering guitar style seems more uniquely African and less boxed in by the John Lee Hooker-izations that became the hallmark of his sound; the percussive accompaniment is simpler and less "perfect" as well, an unadorned and heartfelt performance on the calabash, rattling alongside the improvisational guitar lines. Placed together, these two albums show both the evolution and continuity of a decade's worth of Toure's career, and help trace the development of a musical style that has helped reshape the world music scene. Great stuff.

Ali Toure Farka "Ali Toure Farka " (Sonafric Records, 1976)

Ali Toure "Farka" (Sonafric Records, 1976) (LP)

Ali Farka Toure "Special Biennale: Le Jeune Chansonnier Du Mali" (Sonafric Records, 1976) (LP)

Ali Toure Farka "Ali Toure Farka " (Sonafric Records, 1979) (LP)

Ali Farka Toure "Ali Toure Dit Farka" (Sonafric Records, 1979) (LP)

Ali Toure Farka "Ali Toure Farka" (Sonafric/Esperance Records, 1984) (LP)

Ali Farka Toure "Ali Toure Farka" (Sonodisc/Esperance Records, 1988)

Ali Farka Toure "Ali Farka Toure" (Mango/World Circuit Records, 1988)
The groundbreaking American debut disc of one of Africa's greatest stars, the late Ali Farka Toure, a Malian griot who fused local, regional musical traditions with Delta-style blues. The hypnotic qualities of his music are appealing, but for me the similarities to American bluesman John Lee Hooker are a drawback -- this is soulful, but monotonous. If you get on his wavelength, though, it's very rewarding... I am certainly in the minority as far as most world music fans go regarding the whole Ali Farka Toure phenomenon, so take what I say with a grain of salt...

Ali Farka Toure "African Blues" (Shanachie Records, 1990)

Ali Farka Toure & Amadou Cisse "The River" (World Circuit/Mango Records, 1990)

Ali Farka Toure & Taj Mahal "The Source" (World Circuit/Hannibal Records, 1993)

Ali Farka Toure & Ry Cooder "Talking Timbuktu" (Rykodisc, 1994)
Zillions of people absolutely adore this set of acoustic duets with African pop star Ali Farka Toure and American country-roots legend Ry Cooder, although I find it a bit clunky. I think the main problem for me is that I've never been taken much with Farka Toure's music... It sounds great on paper -- a master musician from Mali who plays his own version of American blues -- but his records always leave me flat. Still, as I mentioned, there are plenty of other people who swear by this album, so take my gruff distain with a grain of salt.

Ali Farka Toure "Niafunke" (World Circuit/Hannibal Records, 1999)

Ali Farka Toure & Corey Harris "Mississippi To Mali" (Rounder Records, 2002)

Ali Farka Toure & Toumani Diabate "In The Heart Of The Moon" (Nonesuch Records, 2005)
A surpassingly beautiful set of instrumentals featuring Diabate on kora, and Ali Farka Toure providing remarkably restrained accompaniment. His bluesy tendencies are mostly on hold here, as the duo explores quiet, meditative byways, with gentle, insistent melodies and fabulous musicianship.

Ali Farka Toure "Savane" (Nonesuch Records, 2006)

Ali Farka Toure & Toumani Diabate "Ali And Toumani" (World Circuit Records, 2010)

Ali Farka Toure & Hamadoun Tandina "Sac A Paroles" (All Other Records, 2011)

Ali Farka Toure & Inna Baba Coulibaly "Sahel" (Nonesuch Records, 2017)

Ali Farka Toure "Voyageur" (World Circuit Records, 2023)

• Wikipedia: Ali Farka Toure

• Discogs: Ali Farka Toure

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