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Album Details

• Artist: Habib Koite
• Album: Baro
• Label: Putumayo
• Year of Release: 2001
• Reviewed by: dscanland on 2003-03-30

I remember being totally taken with Habib Koite’s first album on Putumayo entitled Ma Ya. The unique thing about Habib is that he plays the guitar with a rock style mixed with classical and incorporates Malian tunings that make the guitar sound like nothing you have ever heard before. And that’s just the guitar playing. Habib has been influenced by Western music but he refuses to give up his roots so he subtly puts in some blues and soul music references. He is one of those world music artists that everyone asks who it is when the first come across because he is so interesting and different. Such guitar players as Bonnie Raitt praise Koite’s amazing guitar skills. He not only sticks to the West African culture but also plays with Cuban music on the groovy “Batoumanbe�. Even though Habib sings in a foreign language and the majority of his audience doesn’t understand what he is singing about he will still gain more and more fans because of his absolutely beautiful playing and songwriting. You know it is heartfelt and that Habib has poured his soul into the music. Baro is a great companion to 1999’s Ma Ya and would also serve as a great intro into a talented musician who’s career is only beginning.

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