Idrissa Soumaoro - Dire
The ten highly original compositions of the album are strongly based upon
traditional music of Mali, but Idrissa's life experiences, travels, education,
collaborations and personal musical career have led him to compose and
perform music with other infuences. As Idrissa quotes: 'My inspiration generally
comes from the donso n'goni, a Bambara instrument played by and for hunters
throughout Mali. This is a pentatonic instrument, similar to the blues exported to
the USA by black African slaves. I've also spent so much time playing a variety of
music that my music also refects rumba, salsa (as well as Bamanan blues and a
few derivatives: jazz, country, soul, rhythm and blues) etc. I have looked for and
hope to have found my own form of expression from these infuences'.