aaamusic | On 14, May 2015

Sunday 3rd May, Cheltenham

The ngoni is one of the oldest of African string instruments. Dynamic Malian musician Bassekou Kouyate started playing it at 12 and today he performs worldwide. His wife, Amy Sacko is also a successful solo artist who sings lead vocals in his band Ngoni ba. Together they’ve appeared at The 2013 Proms and performed with Sir Paul McCartney and John Paul Jones.

The rest of his lively band, all members of his family, comprises Mamadou Kouyate (ngoni bass), Moustafa Kouyate (ngoni), Mahamadou Tounkara (yabara and tama percussion), Abou Sissoko (ngoni medium) and Moctar Kouyate (calebasse).

Bassekou revolutionised the ngoni, the ancient African lute, by adding strings and changing it with distortion, electric pick-ups and effects pedals. The first and second albums by Ngoni Ba, Segu Blue and I Speak Fula, were both released internationally and resulted in a move away from  traditional melodies to merge jazz, rock and blues.

At this striking Jazz Arena performance the initial delicate flamenco sounds quickly evolved into something  more intense and exhilarating.  ‘Ba’, in the African Bambara language, means ‘strong’ or ‘great’ and songs from their recent album Ba Power had a raw feel together with a hard, rhythmical sound, just as likeable and captivating as before, but more edgy. This was a spacey and trance like set that was fast, soulful and great fun.

Ngoni Ba try to reflect in their music the historical themes of hope and conflict found in Malian society. They’re a fine Grammy nominated band, variously described as sharp, thoughtful, emotional and mesmerising. The underlying fury still remains, but perhaps they’ve become a little louder, funkier and more intricate.

Anthony Weightman