Salif Keita Acoustic - Live at Carreau du temple (Paris) / director, Josselin Carré; Salif Keita, Mamadou Diabaté, Guy Nwogang, Bah Kouyaté, Aminata Danté, Ousmane Kouyaté, Souleymane Kouyaté.

[Place of publication not identified] : OLEO Films, 2014.

1 streaming video file (59 min.) : sound, color

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Title from video title screen (viewed April 15, 2023).

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"The voice of Mali proves that, when 'unplugged', he can still unleash fire amid the greatest finesse. This outstanding concert at Le Carreau Du Temple in Paris may be billed as 'Salif Keita acoustic' but things are switched on, both literally and figuratively. Playing a prominent role in proceedings is the superlative electric guitarist Ousmane Kouyaté while Keita, himself, a seminal figure in his native Mali as well as one of the most important artists the world, let alone, Africa, has seen in the past five decades, makes sparks fly with that unique voice of his. Yet the performance is masterfully paced, starting in peaceful waters as Keita, resplendent in a cream suit, remains unerringly poised on a chair centre stage. Guy Nwogang creates a discreet drizzle of percussion while Mamadou Diabaté and Souleymane Kouyaté, on kora and ngoni, respectively, add to the rhythmic flow, all the while leaving space for Keita to intone the majestic theme of 'Katolon' with characteristic attention to detail. His 1987 breakout album Soro proved that Keita makes music to which one loosens a limb as well as lends an ear, and as the concert unfolds, the band becomes increasingly upbeat and energetic. Nwogang's improvisations, flitting from djembe to cajon to cowbells, rouse the singer, who leaves his chair to move stealthily across the stage and uncover new textures in his stark, stinging tenor. The audience responds emphatically. Songs such as 'Mandjou' and the hearty finale 'Tekere', given an extra layer of warmth by the excellent backing vocals of Aminata Danté and Bah Kouyaté, are met with wave upon wave of spirited dancing in the crowd. Michael League of Snarky Puppy, who asked Keita to guest on the band's 2016 album *Family Dinner Vol.2*, called the singer a rare soul blessed with a 'voice of god.' True as this may be, Keita is also a consummate performer who knows how to bring any audience into his own heaven on earth. Kevin Le Gendre".

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June 05, 2023

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