Bassekou Kouyate @ The Arts Centre Nov 22

If you're Norwich based, try and catch this gig! We saw them at Womad this year (there's a short video in our July archive) and they were awesome. Blurb from his my space site:Taj Mahal describes him as a genius, a living proof that the blues comes from the region of Segu. Bassekou Kouyate is one of Malis best-known Ngoniplayers. He has collaborated with many important traditional musicians of his country as well as international such as Carlos Santana, U2 among many many others. Most recently he is featured on Ali Farkas posthumous album 'Savane' and toured with him leaving a lasting impression on the audience as the bands solo ngoni player. Bassekou was born in a village called Garana about 60 kms from Segu, in the remote countryside on the banks of the Niger river. He was raised in a traditional musical environment, his mother a praise singer and his father and brothers exceptional ngoni players. He moved to Bamako when he was 19 years old where he met the young Toumani Diabate. By the late 1980s Bassekou was part of Toumanis trio and they recorded their first albums together, Songhai and Djelika. Bassekou married the singer Ami Sacko (so-called the Tina Turner of Mali) and they are much solicited for the traditional Sunday wedding parties that happen in the streets of Bamako. After collaborating a lot with others both nationally and internationally Bassekou now finally has put together his own band: Ngoni ba; the big ngoni: Malis first ngoni quartett. In July he recorded his debutalbum Segu Blue for the Munich based company out l here rec.
Next Boiling Point at Take 5 will be Dec 1st, hope to see you there.

Last night

Thanks to all friends old and new for turning out on Nov 3 to Take 5 for another Boiling Point extravaganza! Who needs fireworks when you can watch the musical sparks fly and warm yourselves with spicy, red hot tropical sounds?.


Mr Maclean, Spenn and the Anthrologist did us proud as usual, and thanks to the Madhatter for his short but sweet guest spot. Also it was celebrations all round, with a happy birthday to Finn and the lovely Jules.
Next one will be Saturday December 1st, our last of 2007. This is promising to be another fantastic night in one of the few remaining Norwich venues where you can still find a great eclectic mix of music ! Worth saving yourself for this one!
In the meantime catch the Boiling Point session on alternative Sunday mornings, 11-13.00 on Future Radio, 96.9fm or www.futureradio.co.uk.
Diary check: If you love our music, you'll love Bassekou Kouyate. You can catch him and Ngoni Ba at Norwich Arts Centre on Thursday November 22, see a short vid on this blogspot.

Bassekou Kouyate

You can now upload video to Blogspot, so here is a glimpse of the wonderful Bassekou Kouyate filmed at Womad. You can catch him and Ngoni Ba at Norwich Arts Centre on Thursday November 22.