The Original Sound Of Mali 2 (2LP)

DESCRIPTION

Following the success of The Original Sound of Mali compilation, Mr Bongo returns with another deep dive into the remarkable musical landscape of Mali. Curated by French writer, journalist, and Grammy-nominated compiler Florent Mazzoleni, alongside Mr Bongo’s David Buttle, this second volume restores, reissues, and contextualises iconic tracks from artists such as Ousmane Kouyaté & Ambassadeurs Internationaux, Rail Band, Les Messagers du Mali, Mystère Jazz de Tombouctou, and many more. It’s a further exploration of the post-independence sonic legacy of Mali — a rich convergence of traditional instrumentation and modern influences.

Following Mali’s independence, the 1970s saw a ten-year period of cultural flowering, where newly state-supported bands and orchestras began to be documented and recorded. These musical overviews revealed the essence of Malian identity — rooted in tradition, yet open to the creative winds of blues, soul, rock, and funk crossing the Atlantic.

Malian artists, influenced by figures like John Lee Hooker, Wilson Pickett, Celia Cruz, and James Brown, began incorporating Western sounds into their own. Notable examples on this compilation include Tjiwara Band de Kati’s raw cover of Pickett’s ‘In The Midnight Hour’, and Les Ambassadeurs du Motel de Bamako’s funk-fuelled ‘Get Up James’.

Many bands honed their craft playing in Bamako’s hotels, absorbing foreign musical requests and using the expanding availability of modern instrumentation to fuse traditional Malian rhythms with global sounds. This blend created a one-of-a-kind sonic alchemy.

Volume 2 captures the pulse and energy of this time — from the afrobeat-laced ‘Kefimba’ by Ousmane Kouyaté, to the trance-like swirl of Tentemba Jazz du Mali, and the percussive, ngoni-powered grooves of Allata Broulaye. Elsewhere, Mystère Jazz de Tombouctou offers deep desert mysticism, while Rail Band, with Salif Keita’s iconic vocals, delivers grand, soulful majesty.

Included with the compilation is an extensive booklet written by Florent Mazzoleni, offering insight into the cultural context and historical relevance of these recordings. With its enchanting, powerful, and deeply expressive musical selections, The Original Sound of Mali 2 is an essential continuation of a story still unfolding.

TRACKLIST

A Side

1. Ousmane Kouyaté & Ambassadeurs Internationaux – Kefimba

2. Bouba et Sokona Sacko – Mamaniya

3. Les Ambassadeurs du Motel de Bamako – Get Up James

B Side

1. Allata Broulaye – Moussokéléyato

2. Tentemba Jazz du Mali – Yayoroba

3. Tjiwara Band de Kati – Kogola

C Side

1. Rail Band – Massaré Mousso

2. Les Ambassadeurs du Motel de Bamako – Matou Kagni

3. Mystère Jazz de Tombouctou – Sidi Yahia

D Side

1. Allata Broulaye – Yayoroba

2. Les Messagers du Mali – Diamana Diarra

3. Tjiwara Band de Kati – Midnight Hour