ali farka touré, r.i.p.

Ali Farka Touré - Timbarma [from s/t lp]

This week saw the passing of one of the world's greatest blues guitarists, and, due to his North African descent, likely one of the least appreciated, at least outside the blues-guitar-aficionado community. I'll spare you the full biography, which you can read in any number of obituaries. Suffice it to say, Touré had a huge influence on both blues guitar and North African music, as well as the confluence and acceptance thereof. You can hear it in this track, from his eponymous, name-making debut album (recorded in his 50s, after he'd been playing guitar locally for decades), in the utterly sublime blend of John Lee Hooker style riffage and Tuareg melody and vocals. Generally, my African music tastes slant towards Ethiopia and Kenya (cf. Fela Anikulapo Kuti), but I'll give a big up to Mali and a hat tip to the late great Mr. Touré.