BALLA TOUNKARA: Be Right

Balla Tounkara

Be Right

© 2000 Balla Tounkara Music

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a magical fusion of traditional Mande music from Mali, West Africa and the modern styles of blues and funk; "every tune is a tale of two worlds, expressed with the griot's unparalleled eloquence."

tracks

1 Bangnereye (Lazy People)
2 Lemeneya (Strong Heart)
3 Toungamagni (Adventure)
4 Dianfa (Treason)
5 Kelegmagni (War)
6 Soliyaya (Family Ties)
7 Mansani Cisse (Destiny Unknown)
8 Kita Fasa (My Hometown)
9 Sida (AIDS)
10 Le Monde est Fou (It's a Crazy World)

notes

"The music of Balla Tounkara represents the best of tradtion and innovation--a fluid harmony of old world and new.

Native of Mali, West Africa, and schooled in the discipline of traditional African music, he brings an incredible ear for structure and rhythmic nuance to contemporary styles from rock, reggae, and hiphop to gospel and blues.

A true virtuoso of the kora, he can make its harp-like strings produce the hummingbird trills of tradional African melodies, or belt out the soulful base tones of the blues.

On this recording, his debut CD with the band, he also demonstrates his agility as an arranger, layering each song as a complex pastiche of culture, philosophy and muscial idiom--a crossroads in his musical journey through the world.

'The kora can play any music in the world,' Balla says.

'Its my dream to put the kora into my own experience--to put the culture of Mali into modern styles.' No one else puts the kora through so many stylistic changes.

He is a kind of bard, or troubador: for Balla, the kora is not just an instrument, its the spiritual accompaniment to his deepest thoughts on life, religion, politics, and culture.

He plays whatever he hears; the kora represents his response to his surroundings.

Its part of his eloquence, as much as his singing voice and the lyrics he composes.

All this derives from his upbringing as a "griot": the traditional bard/singer/storyteller/peacemaker native to the Mandinka people of Mali, West Africa.

Its a role handed down through families, for generations; it lies at the core of Balla's relationship to music, and to art in general."

Catherine A. Salmons critic, The Boston Phoenix

reviews

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  • Fantastic
    author: Cathy ann James

    Balla Tounkara is a fantastic musician. I had the luxary of seeing his band perform in Brooklyn a little over a month ago - I was blown away. We were rooted in our stance. I am westindian and I am familiar with various typed of music, but never before had I heard anything so wonderful and different. I immediately sought the CD and was not dissapointed, actually I was so enthusiastic with my reviews that I put one of the songs on my personal voicemail. This type of music is soothing, Balla is a talented musician and I look forward to him and his band returning to New York in the very near future.

  • A glorious proclamation of African music - Trad and Glad
    author: Andrew Lindsay

    Found this record on CD Baby while looking for music by Balla Tounkara's uncle, Djelimady Tounkara (also worth checking out). Be Right has got lots going on. I love where the electric guitar comes in. Its like shining an electric torch on something older, thats always been there, but shows it up in a new and sparkling light. A glorious proclamation of African music - Trad and Glad!

  • author: CD Baby

    African pop. A cool mix between traditional Mande music from Mali, West Africa and the modern blues and funk. A true virtuoso of the kora, he can make its harp-like strings produce the hummingbird trills of tradional African melodies, or belt out the soulful base tones of the blues.

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