Joie de l'optimisme

Idrissa Soumaoro is one of the least heralded yet most valuable of Malian musicians.  He was chef d'orchestre and keyboard player for one of Mali's legendary bands, Les Ambassadeurs Du Motel De Bamako, the band that made Salif Keita famous.

 

When he left Les Ambassadeurs, he became an innovator in the education of the visually impaired, teaching music for 18 years at IJA, the Institute for Blind Youth, where his star pupils were a guitarist named Amadou Bagayoko and a singer named Mariam Doumbia.  You know them now as Amadou & Mariam.

Now 74 years old, Idrissa has released his first solo album in 13 years, called Diré, and it's a beauty.  You'll hear a track from it this week on Global A Go-Go, plus one from a rare, now reissued, recording of Idrissa's band at the IJA that included Amadou & Mariam.

Also this week (Sunday October 1, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards at wrir.org/listen, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site): New throat singing from Mongolia's Batsükh Dorj, María Raquel revives Colombia's big band porro sound of the 50s, the unadorned Congolese guitar of Vumbi Dekula, and the latest in Afrobeat from Alpacas Collective, The Blassics and Eparapo.

Podcast: radio4all.net/program/116474

All the podcasts: radio4all.net/series/Global%20A%20Go-Go

 

 

Artist | Country | Song | Recording | Label | Year

 

Oliver Lake | USA | Separation | Matador Of 1st & 1st | Passin' Thru | 1997

Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros | England UK | Global A Go-Go | Global A Go-Go | Hellcat | 2001

 

Albert Kuvezin & Yat-Kha | Tuva Republic Russia | When The Levee Breaks | Re-Covers | World Village | 2006

Batsükh Dorj | Mongolia | Kaldak-Khamar | Ögbelerim (Music For My Ancestors) | Buda Musique | 2023

Shono | Buryatia Republic Russia | Arban Khoer Zhel | Kolkhozoy Traktor | CPL Music | 2023

 

Lucho Bermudez Y Su Orquesta | Colombia | Danza Negra | Danza Negra / Me Duele Aquí - Single | RCA Victor | 1954

María Raquel | Colombia-USA | Cumbia Del Presente | Mucha Mujer | Chulo | 2023

Bio Ritmo | RVA USA | Oriza | Oriza - EP | Peace & Rhythm | 2015

Willie Colón, Canta: Hector La Voe | USA | Che Che Colé | Cosa Nuestra | Fania | 1969

Fruko Y Sus Tesos | Colombia | Tronco Seco | El Violento | Vampisoul | 2023-1973

 

Idrissa Soumaoro | Mali | Kalata | Diré | Mieruba | 2023

Idrissa Soumaoro Et L'Eclipse De L'I.J.A. | Mali | Nissodia (Joie De L'Optimisme) | Le Tioko-Tioko | Eterna | 1978

Amadou & Mariam | Mali | Batoma | Welcome To Mali | Because Music | 2008

 

Vumbi Dekula | RD Congo-Sweden | Weekend | Congo Guitar | Hive Mind / Sing-A-Song Fighter | 2023

Mose Fan Fan | RD Congo-England UK | Mali Ya Mungu | Bayekeleye | LAA | 2004

 

The Blassics | Finland | Hagerun Gelaba | Sounding Times | Odd Funk | 2023-2019

Alpacas Collective | Belgium | Gunkali | Gunkali - Single | Catalpas | 2023

 

Eparapo | England UK-Ghana | My Beautiful City (feat Afla Sackey) | Take To The Streets | Wah Wah 45s | 2023

Tony Allen with Afrobeat 2000 | Nigeria | N.E.P.A. | N.E.P.A. (Never Expect Power Always) | Earthworks | 1984