Savane (album)

Savane
Studio album by
Ali Farka Touré
Released17 July 2006 (UK)[1]
25 July 2006 (U.S.)
RecordedHôtel Mandé, Bamako, 2004
GenreAfrican Blues
Length58:37
LabelWorld Circuit
ProducerNick Gold
Ali Farka Touré chronology
In the Heart of the Moon
(2005) 		Savane
(2006) 		Ali and Toumani
(2010)
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic94/100[2]
Review scores
SourceRating
The Austin Chronicle[3]
Entertainment WeeklyA+[4]
The Guardian[5]
The Independent[6]
MusicOMH[7]
NME[8]
Observer Music Monthly[9]
Pitchfork Media8.1/10[10]
PopMatters[11]
Stylus MagazineA[12]

Savane is the final solo album by Malian musician Ali Farka Touré. It is the third and final part of the Hôtel Mandé Sessions, featuring Touré and Toumani Diabaté, recorded by World Circuit head Nick Gold. The album was released posthumously by World Circuit on 17 July 2006,[1] more than four months after Touré's death.

The recording sessions at Hôtel Mandé in Bamako took place from June to July 2004.[13] Touré, suffering from cancer, had wanted to remain in Mali, so a temporary studio was set up on the top floor of the hotel.[13] Touré approved the final master of Savane just weeks before his death in March 2006.[14] He said of the album: "I know this is my best album ever. It has the most power and is the most different."[15]

Savane features a number of non-African blues musicians, such as Little George Sueref, Pee Wee Ellis, and also Touré's protégé since the age of 13, Afel Bocoum.

It was released to high critical acclaim, earning a 94 on Metacritic.[16] The album was also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[17]

In 2009. It was awarded a gold certification from the Independent Music Companies Association which indicated sales of at least 100,000 copies throughout Europe.[18]

Track listing

  1. "Erdi" – 4:42
  2. "Yer Bounda Fara" – 4:18
  3. "Beto" – 4:49
  4. "Savane" – 7:43
  5. "Soya" – 4:38
  6. "Penda Yoro" – 5:25
  7. "Machengoidi" – 3:35
  8. "Ledi Coumbe" – 3:16
  9. "Hanana" – 2:34
  10. "Soko Yhinka" – 5:05
  11. "Gambari Didi" – 3:49
  12. "Banga" – 3:48
  13. "N'Jarou" – 4:55

Personnel

  • Ali Farka Touré – guitar, vocals, percussion
  • Mama Sissoko – ngoni
  • Bassekou Kouyate – ngoni
  • Dassy Sarré – ngoni
  • Afel Bocoum – backing vocals (tracks 6, 7, 13)
  • Alou Coulibaly – water calabash (7)
  • Ramata Diakite – backing vocals (3)
  • Massambou Wele Diallo – bolon (9)
  • Oumar Diallo – bass (13)
  • Fanga Diawara – njarka violin (1, 7, 9)
  • Fain Dueñas – percussion (1, 3, 6, 9, 13)
  • Pee Wee Ellis – tenor sax (1, 3, 13)
  • Souleye Kané – backing vocals (2, 6, 7, 10), calabash (3, 5, 11, 12)
  • Mamadou Kelli – voice (11)
  • Ali Magassa – backing vocals (2, 6, 7, 10), guitar (5)
  • Etienne Mbappé – bass (6)
  • Yacouba Moumouni – flute (12)
  • Hammer Sankare – backing vocals (2, 5, 6, 7, 13)
  • Sonny – bass (10)
  • Little George Sueref – harmonica (1, 6, 8)
  • Marriame Tounkara – backing vocals (12)
  • Brehima Toure – backing vocals (10)
  • Oumar Touré – backing vocals (2, 6, 7, 10), congas (3)
  • Yves Wernert – bass (1)

References

  1. ^ a b "Ali Farka Toure: Savane (2006): CD". HMV. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  2. ^ "Savane by Ali Farka Toure". Metacritic.
  3. ^ "Ali Farka Toure: Savane Album Review".
  4. ^ Entertainment Weekly 11 Aug 2006 issue, page 69
  5. ^ Denselow, Robin (13 July 2006). "CD: Ali Farka Touré, Savane". The Guardian.
  6. ^ "Independent Online Edition > Reviews". enjoyment.independent.co.uk:80. Archived from the original on 19 July 2006. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  7. ^ "Ali Farka Touré - Savane | Album Reviews". 16 July 2006.
  8. ^ NME 5 Aug 2006, page 29
  9. ^ Gillett, Charlie (17 June 2006). "CD: Ali Farka Toure, Savane". The Observer.
  10. ^ "Ali Farka Touré: Savane". Pitchfork.
  11. ^ "Ali Farka Touré: Savane - PopMatters Music Review". Archived from the original on 2008-02-16. Retrieved 2008-02-11.
  12. ^ "Stylus Magazine".
  13. ^ a b Ben Sisario (23 July 2006). "Nick Gold, the Musical Matchmaker Who Gave Mali the Blues". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  14. ^ "Ali Farka Toure::Biography". World Circuit. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  15. ^ "Ali Farka Toure::Savane". World Circuit. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  16. ^ Reviews for Savane by Ali Farka Toure
  17. ^ Robert Dimery; Michael Lydon (2014). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition. Universe. ISBN 978-0-7893-2074-2.
  18. ^ "color". www.impalamusic.org. Archived from the original on 2017-08-24.