This week World Beat considers three stringed instruments from Africa: the valiha from Madagascar, kora from West Africa and oud from North Africa (which may have originated in what was Persia). All these instruments are plucked and 10 years ago, a bright spark in the music business thought it would be a good idea to bring together three master pluckers of these three instruments to see what music they might create. The result was the 3MA project release back in 2008.
The three musicians were Ballake Sissoko of Mali, one of the region's leading kora players; Rajery of Madagascar, widely regarded as one of the great modern valiha players; and Driss el Maloumi, less well known, but again regarded as a master of his instrument, the oud. The name 3MA was taken from the French spelling of each country the musicians came from -- Madagascar, Morocco and Mali.
Since the release of the band's first album, the three musicians have played together across the world but had little time to go back into the studio for a second album. At the end of 2017, the musicians released their second studio album, Anarouz (Mad Minute Music), and it is sure to excite those who were lucky enough to have heard the debut album.
It is unusual for a modern African release to dispense with drums and percussion, as 3MA did on the first album, and I've read interviews with the band members in which they note that all three musicians are regarded as a bit unusual in their respective home countries. Sissoko and Rajery are noted for their collaborations with musicians outside of their traditional music scenes. I saw Rajery perform and join workshops at the Rainforest World Music Festival in Sarawak, Borneo and during one workshop watched him as he joined tribal groups in a spectacular fusion jam; his playing was sublime. Rajery did all this with one hand -- he had his left hand amputated just after he was born.
So, how do the valiha (bamboo zither with nylon strings, the national instrument of Madagascar), kora (21-stringed African harp) and oud (Arabic lute) sound on the new album? Spectacular. Percussion from an Indian tabla (Khalid Kouhen) has been added on two tracks, the soothing Anfaz and Mariam, which features flamenco touches on the oud. There is beautiful singing from El Maloumi on Hanatra and Rajery on Aretina but my favourite track is the rolling title track; try separating the instruments when you listen to find out which instrument is leading, and I guarantee you can't do it. This is fusion music of the highest order and highly recommended.
The European Broadcast Union's World Music chart for January 2018 (see box) has the 3MA album at No.5, and it is still rising. There are a number of fascinating albums, including excellent albums from Baboucar Traore (reviewed last year) and the London-based African band, Kodjovi Kush and the Afrospot All Stars.
Another album that caught my attention is the wonderfully-titled At Least Wave Your Handkerchief At Me: The Joys And Sorrows Of Southern Albanian Song (Glitterbeat). Little is known of Albanian music outside the country, with the exception of its "iso-polyphony" choral songs, which are on Unesco's intangible cultural heritage list. I've heard some of this wonderful singing before but to be honest I knew more about Ismail Kadare's novels than Albanian music before I listened to this fabulous album.
Veteran producer Joe Boyd, who many know from the success of his Cuban project with the Buena Vista Social Club, invited the cream of Albania's musicians (both in and outside the country) to form Saz'iso, who play saze, an iso-polyphonic folk style (mainly found in southern Albania), accapela, with dual lead singers and a vocal drone, set to a soundtrack that features clarinet, violin, lute and percussion.
It is a uniquely haunting sound that is powered by rolling rhythms and will be something of a revelation for many people. Bulgarian and Hungarian music are much better known but with this fine album perhaps Albanian music will be the next big thing. About time. Here's what Ry Cooder had to say about the music: "Why not give yourself a break from unending cavalcade of modern high-speed insanity, and rest up with this album of deep soul from southern Albania." Highly recommended.
World Music Charts Europe
1. Ladilikan by Trio-Da-Kali And Kronos Quartet (Mali/Usa, World Circuit)
2. Laisez Passer by Tootard (Syria, Glitterbeat)
3. At Least Wave Your Handkerchief At Me - The Joys And Sorrows Of Southern Albanian Songs by Saz'iso (Albania, Glitterbeat)
4. Dounia Tabolo by Boubacar Traore (Mali, Lusafrica)
5. Anarouz by Rajery, Driss El Maloumi, Ballake Sissoko (Madagascar/Morocco/Mali, Mad Minute Music)
6. Canzoniere by Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino (Italy, Ponderosa Music)
7. Espiral De Ilusao by Criolo (Brazil, Sterns Music)
8. Wiejski Dzez / Village Jam by Kapela Maliszow (Poland, Unzipped Fly Records)
9. Acatao by Indialucia (Poland/India/Spain, Cm Records)
10. Selo Na Okuke by Kries (Croatia, Riverboat)
11. Resilient by Mr. Lif & Brass Menazeri (USA, Waxsimile)
12. Almas Rebeldes by Che Sudaka (Argentina/Colombia/Spain, Cavernicola)
13. Apollo You Sixteen, Part 2 by Karim Baggili (Belgium Take The Bus)
14. Gili Yalo by Gili Yalo (Ethiopia/Israel Dead Sea Recordings)
15. La Raiz Electrica by Raul Rodriguez (Spain, Fol)
16. Tamala by Bao Sissoko, Mola Sylla & Wouter Vandenabeele (Senegal/Belgium, Muziekpublique)
17. Love In Africa by Kodjovi Kush And Afrospot All Stars (Togo/Uk, Chop Time Music)
18. Romanimo by Lakatos Monika (Hungary, Gryllus Kft)
19. Finca Santa Elena by Arturo Jorge Y El Cuarteto Tradicion (Cuba, Tumi)
20. Blue Maqams by Anouar Brahem (Tunisia, Ecm)
