Songhai
One of the most rewarding, and musically polyglot, groups to emerge during the world music boom of the late 80s, Songhai brought together the nuevo flamenco of Spanish band Ketama (through guitarists/vocalists Juan Carmona, Jos Soto, Antonio Carmona and Jose Miguel Carmona), Malian kora player Toumani Diabat and British-born jazz/folk acoustic bass maestro, Danny Thompson. In late 1987, Ketama were in London for a series of club dates, and through a mutual friend were introduced to Diabate. A jam session followed in a London West End club patronized by Spanish expatriates, and the participants were so excited by the results that Ketama's producer Joe Boyd arranged a recording session in Madrid in spring 1988, augmenting the line-up with Thompson, with whom he had worked regularly since the late 60s. The name Songhai refers to the ancient Malian empire of the same name. The band's music achieved an exquisite balance of African, Spanish and Anglo-American ingredients.
Listen to Songhai
at Finetune.
Top Tracks
- Pozo Del Deseo
- Pozo del Deseo (with Ketama)
- Mani Mani Kuru
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