If your a fan of the blues, there is a facinating correlation between the blues of the United States and the music of West Africa, particularly of Mali. The evolution is obvious and not hard to trace from West Africa to the Carribean, to the South Lands where Blues evolved. What is amazing is how so much has remained the same. You can hear the similiarities between the guitar licks of Taj Mahal and the plucking of the Kora by Toumani Diabite. In fact, there is a great recording of the two of them playing together called Kulanjan. Also, the great Ali Farka Toure of Mali did a wonderful collaboration with Ry Cooder called Talking Timbuktu. Other Mali greats that you should check out are Salif Keita (his album the Mansa of Mali is wonderful) and the newest star in the pantheon of Mali greats, Habib Koite, whose recordings can be had on the Putumayo label.
The universal language?
Discovering the music of a foreign country can be one of the most fascinating and rewarding experiences that a music lover can have. Ethnic music, it is generally acknowledged, is an open window to any culture's idiosyncrasies and it's people's lives, and is the purest expression of that country's soul. In addition, there is a very interesting link between the sound and rhythm of a language and the music of that country. Would any of you fellow Audiogoners like to share any experience(s) you have had, positive or negative, with the music of a foreign country; or of your own native country? These can be through recordings (please recommend) or live performances you attended in or outside of that country. I look forward to your responses.