Biography
The Griots of Bamako created the blues out of a shear human necessity to preserve the stories, emotion and tradition of their culture and land. In Bamako Blues, one of the most prominent and influential figures in late 20th century blues and roots music, composer and multi-instrumentalist Taj Mahal, is joined by Malian guitar virtuoso Habib Koité, one of the leading figures in contemporary world music.
Though Taj Mahal’s career began more than four decades ago with American blues, he has broadened his artistic scope over the years to include music representing virtually every corner of the world – west Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, the Hawaiian islands and so much more. What ties it all together is his insatiable interest in musical discovery. Over the years, his passion and curiosity have led him around the world, and the resulting global perspective has never been clearer than when he shares a stage with musicians from across the world.
With his unmistakable and unique voice, talent that can not be learned, and a spirit which keeps him in a state of perpetual artistic growth and evolution, Taj Mahal has always, and will always play music that he loves. For that, he continues to draw fans, new and old, from every conceivable walk of life and continues to open our eyes to all that the art of music can be.
Habib takes some unique approaches to playing the guitar; he tunes his instrument to the pentatonic scale and plays on open strings as one would on a kamale n'goni. At other times Habib plays music that sounds closer to the blues or flamenco, two styles he studied under Khalilou Traoré a veteran of the legendary Afro-Cuban band Maravillas du Mali. Unlike the griots, his singing style is restrained and intimate with varying cadenced rhythms and melodies.
Habib’s music proves that we do not have to forsake the past in order to develop, and that the modern world, for all it’s benefits, needs to keep its links to the folklore, mythology and history of the people in order for it to retain its soul.
Together Taj Mahal and Habib Koite take a musical pilgrimage that celebrates the timeless heart of the blues and the West African kingdom from which it was originally born.
Presented in association with Monterey International
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