Ali and Toumani is a 2010 record by Malian musicians Ali Farka Touré on the guitar and providing vocals and Toumani Diabaté on the kora. It is the second album featuring the two musicians; it is a follow-up to In the Heart of the Moon which was released in 2005. The album was recorded in 2005 in London prior to concert dates in Europe following the release of In the Heart of the Moon. The album was released after Touré's death in 2006.[1]
| Ali and Toumani | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Studio album by | |
| Released | February 23, 2010 |
| Recorded | Livingston Studios, London 24th,25th,26th June 2005 |
| Genre | African Blues |
| Length | 49:41 |
| Label | World Circuit |
| Producer | Nick Gold |
Ali and Toumani features some older songs from Touré's repertoire: "Sabu Yerkoy", which celebrates Mali's independence, dates from the 1960's, and "Sina Mory" is the first song Touré ever heard on guitar in 1956. According to Diabaté, "[t]he album was going to be a summing up of all the albums that Ali had done in the past...It was the very last album he made."[2]
Critical reception edit
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 89/100[3] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| All About Jazz |   [4] |
| Allmusic | [5] |
| The Financial Times | [6] |
| The Guardian | [7] |
| The Los Angeles Times |  [8] |
| Mojo | [9] |
| MusicOMH | [10] |
| Pitchfork Media | 8.3/10[11] |
| Q | [12] |
| The Telegraph | [13] |
In a 2010 review for Pitchfork, Joe Tangari said that the sessions for the album were recorded with "uncompomising intimacy" and that the album, along with In the Heart of the Moon, were "uncommonly beautiful". Tangari concludes, "It is not challenging music. Anyone can approach it easily, and it is the perfect initiation to Touré's talents for listeners who haven't yet heard him."[14]
Track listing edit
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Ruby" | 5:50 |
| 2. | "Sabu Yerkoy" | 4:05 |
| 3. | "Bé Mankan" | 5:07 |
| 4. | "Doudou" | 4:42 |
| 5. | "Warbé" | 4:47 |
| 6. | "Samba Geladio" | 3:13 |
| 7. | "Sina Mory" | 4:23 |
| 8. | "56" | 6:53 |
| 9. | "Fantasy" | 2:15 |
| 10. | "Machengoidi" | 5:01 |
| 11. | "Kala Djula" | 3:25 |
Musicians edit
- Ali Farka Touré – guitar (tracks 1-11)
- Toumani Diabate – kora (tracks 1-11)
- Orlando "Cachaíto" López – bass (tracks 1,2,5,6,11)
- Vieux Farka Touré – congas (tracks 2,5,11) backing vocals (track 2)
- Souleye Kané – backing vocals (track 2)
- Ali Magassa – backing vocals (track 2)
- Tim Keiper – percussion (track 5,11)
Professional reviews edit
- Kitty Empire (February 14, 2010). "Ali Farka Touré and Toumani Diabaté: Ali and Toumani". Guardian Observer. Guardian News and Media.
References edit
- ^ http://www.uncut.co.uk/ali-farka-toure/ali-farka-toure-toumani-diabate-ali-toumani-review [dead link]
- ^ Diabaté, Toumani, liner notes of Ali and Toumani, World Circuit, WCD 083 (2010), p. 4
- ^ "Ali & Toumani by Ali Farka Toure and Toumani Diabate". Metacritic.
- ^ "Ali Farka Toure and Toumani Diabate: Ali and Toumani album review @ All About Jazz".
- ^ "Ali Farka Touré & Toumani Diabaté - Toumani Diabaté, Ali Farka Touré | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- ^ "Ali Farka Touré and Toumani Diabaté: Ali and Toumani". Financial Times. 20 February 2010.
- ^ "Ali Farka Touré and Toumani Diabaté: Ali and Toumani | CD review". TheGuardian.com. 19 February 2010.
- ^ "Album review: Ali Farka Toure & Toumani Diabete, 'Ali and Toumani'". 23 February 2010.
- ^ Mojo March 2010 issue, page 93
- ^ "Ali Farka Touré & Toumani Diabaté - Ali and Toumani | Album Reviews". 22 February 2010.
- ^ "Ali Farka Touré / Toumani Diabaté: Ali and Toumani". Pitchfork.
- ^ Q March 2010 issue, page 108
- ^ "Ali Farka Touré & Toumani Diabaté: Ali and Toumani, CD review".
- ^ Tangari, Joe. "Ali and Toumani". Pitchfork. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- "Ali and Toumani" Makes Metacritic List of Best-Reviewed Albums of 2010, January 12, 2011