http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.33693&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rssThe word on the street is that Mali's premier kora player Toumani Diabate comes from a line of -- get this -- 71 kora players. Most Americans can't trace their roots back more than two generations, but that kind of li! neage -- whether it's accurate or not -- only indicates how seriously Mali takes its music and its history. Diabate was born into a family of hereditary musicians and his story mimics those of nearly any instrumental virtuoso: he learned kora thanks to a parent (his father, Sidiki, who was known as the king of the kora); he began studying at age five and performed for the first time when he was just 13; he's now an acknowledged world master of the instrument. Studying the kora, an 18-stringed lute, is no laughing matter: Diabate was schooled in songs dating back to the 15th century, and his repertoire is vaster than even he could describe. While he's not as well known in the west as artists like Ali Farka Toure or Youssou N'Dour (mainly because he tours much less), his albums are nonetheless classics of the genre. In 1988 he traveled to London to record his first solo album, <I>Kaira</I> and each release since then has sparkled with his trademark delicacy, intelligence and sheer, unadulterated skill. While he's collaborated with the new flamenco group Ketama twice (for the Songhai series), Diabate's not a prolific recording artist, and he was in danger of falling off the world music radar at the turn of the 21st century. But in 2005 his career was resurrected when producer Nick Gold enabled a series of recordings that led to three new albums, the first of which was <I>In The Heart of the Moon</I>, an album of improvised duets with Ali Farka Toure. - Sarah BardeenMalien720Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:23:46 -0800 http://static.realone.com/rotw/images/logo_rhapsody_113x22.gif http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.33693&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss The word on the street is that Mali's premier kora player Toumani Diabate comes from a line of -- get this -- 71 kora players. Most Americans can't trace their roots back more than two generations, but that kind of li! neage -- whether it's accurate or not -- only indicates how seriously Mali takes its music and its history. Diabate was born into a family of hereditary musicians and his story mimics those of nearly any instrumental virtuoso: he learned kora thanks to a parent (his father, Sidiki, who was known as the king of the kora); he began studying at age five and performed for the first time when he was just 13; he's now an acknowledged world master of the instrument. Studying the kora, an 18-stringed lute, is no laughing matter: Diabate was schooled in songs dating back to the 15th century, and his repertoire is vaster than even he could describe. While he's not as well known in the west as artists like Ali Farka Toure or Youssou N'Dour (mainly because he tours much less), his albums are nonetheless classics of the genre. In 1988 he traveled to London to record his first solo album, <I>Kaira</I> and each release since then has sparkled with his trademark delicacy, intelligence and sheer, unadulterated skill. While he's collaborated with the new flamenco group Ketama twice (for the Songhai series), Diabate's not a prolific recording artist, and he was in danger of falling off the world music radar at the turn of the 21st century. But in 2005 his career was resurrected when producer Nick Gold enabled a series of recordings that led to three new albums, the first of which was <I>In The Heart of the Moon</I>, an album of improvised duets with Ali Farka Toure. - Sarah Bardeen http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2084346&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss Mali Tue, 11 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Toumani Diabate on Rhapsody Online 2084346 tra.2084346 Toumani Diabate art.33693 0.99 New Ancient Strings alb.216990 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/8/3/3/1283383_170x170.jpg 2009-08-11 00:00:00.0 2006-07-11 00:00:00.0 true Bi Lambam tra.2084346 300000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2084346&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2084346&variant=data&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18865317&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss Mali Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Toumani Diabate on Rhapsody Online 18865317 tra.18865317 Toumani Diabate art.33693 0.99 The Mande Variations alb.18859557 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/8/4/1/1541482_170x170.jpg 2008-02-26 00:00:00.0 2008-02-26 00:00:00.0 true Kaounding Cissoko tra.18865317 380000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18865317&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18865317&variant=data&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18865316&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss Mali Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Toumani Diabate on Rhapsody Online 18865316 tra.18865316 Toumani Diabate art.33693 0.99 The Mande Variations alb.18859557 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/8/4/1/1541482_170x170.jpg 2008-02-26 00:00:00.0 2008-02-26 00:00:00.0 true Ali Farka Toure tra.18865316 375000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18865316&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18865316&variant=data&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2084349&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss Mali Tue, 11 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Toumani Diabate on Rhapsody Online 2084349 tra.2084349 Toumani Diabate art.33693 0.99 New Ancient Strings alb.216990 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/8/3/3/1283383_170x170.jpg 2009-08-11 00:00:00.0 2006-07-11 00:00:00.0 true Bafoulabe tra.2084349 386000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2084349&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2084349&variant=data&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18865315&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss Mali Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Toumani Diabate on Rhapsody Online 18865315 tra.18865315 Toumani Diabate art.33693 0.99 The Mande Variations alb.18859557 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/8/4/1/1541482_170x170.jpg 2008-02-26 00:00:00.0 2008-02-26 00:00:00.0 true Elyne Road tra.18865315 527000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18865315&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18865315&variant=data&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2084548&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss Mali Tue, 11 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Toumani Diabate on Rhapsody Online 2084548 tra.2084548 Toumani Diabate art.33693 0.99 New Ancient Strings alb.216990 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/8/3/3/1283383_170x170.jpg 2009-08-11 00:00:00.0 2006-07-11 00:00:00.0 true Cheikhna Demba tra.2084548 270000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2084548&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2084548&variant=data&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.698262&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss Africa Tue, 14 Dec 1999 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Toumani Diabate on Rhapsody Online 698262 tra.698262 Toumani Diabate art.33693 0.99 Kaira alb.150099 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/8/5/9/3/1283958_170x170.jpg 2006-07-11 00:00:00.0 1999-12-14 00:00:00.0 true Jarabi tra.698262 305000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.698262&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.698262&variant=data&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18865314&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss Mali Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Toumani Diabate on Rhapsody Online 18865314 tra.18865314 Toumani Diabate art.33693 0.0 The Mande Variations alb.18859557 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/8/4/1/1541482_170x170.jpg 2008-02-26 00:00:00.0 2008-02-26 00:00:00.0 true Si Naani tra.18865314 627000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18865314&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18865314&variant=data&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2084348&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss Mali Tue, 11 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Toumani Diabate on Rhapsody Online 2084348 tra.2084348 Toumani Diabate art.33693 0.99 New Ancient Strings alb.216990 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/8/3/3/1283383_170x170.jpg 2009-08-11 00:00:00.0 2006-07-11 00:00:00.0 true Kita Kaira tra.2084348 543000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2084348&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2084348&variant=data&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2084549&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss Mali Tue, 11 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Toumani Diabate on Rhapsody Online 2084549 tra.2084549 Toumani Diabate art.33693 0.99 New Ancient Strings alb.216990 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/8/3/3/1283383_170x170.jpg 2009-08-11 00:00:00.0 2006-07-11 00:00:00.0 true Kora Bali tra.2084549 547000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2084549&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2084549&variant=data&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18865319&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss Mali Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Toumani Diabate on Rhapsody Online 18865319 tra.18865319 Toumani Diabate art.33693 0.99 The Mande Variations alb.18859557 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/8/4/1/1541482_170x170.jpg 2008-02-26 00:00:00.0 2008-02-26 00:00:00.0 true Djourou Kara Nany tra.18865319 409000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18865319&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18865319&variant=data&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3151934&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss Mali Tue, 4 Feb 2003 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Toumani Diabate on Rhapsody Online 3151934 tra.3151934 Toumani Diabate art.33693 0.99 Malicool alb.265453 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/0/7/7/8/648770_170x170.jpg 2003-10-01 00:00:00.0 2003-02-04 00:00:00.0 true Hank tra.3151934 356000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3151934&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3151934&variant=data&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18865318&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss Mali Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Toumani Diabate on Rhapsody Online 18865318 tra.18865318 Toumani Diabate art.33693 0.99 The Mande Variations alb.18859557 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/8/4/1/1541482_170x170.jpg 2008-02-26 00:00:00.0 2008-02-26 00:00:00.0 true Ismael Drame tra.18865318 344000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18865318&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18865318&variant=data&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2084347&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss Mali Tue, 11 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Toumani Diabate on Rhapsody Online 2084347 tra.2084347 Toumani Diabate art.33693 0.99 New Ancient Strings alb.216990 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/8/3/3/1283383_170x170.jpg 2009-08-11 00:00:00.0 2006-07-11 00:00:00.0 true Salaman tra.2084347 374000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2084347&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2084347&variant=data&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18865320&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss Mali Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Toumani Diabate on Rhapsody Online 18865320 tra.18865320 Toumani Diabate art.33693 0.99 The Mande Variations alb.18859557 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/8/4/1/1541482_170x170.jpg 2008-02-26 00:00:00.0 2008-02-26 00:00:00.0 true El Nabiyouna tra.18865320 359000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18865320&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18865320&variant=data&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2084550&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss Mali Tue, 11 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Toumani Diabate on Rhapsody Online 2084550 tra.2084550 Toumani Diabate art.33693 0.99 New Ancient Strings alb.216990 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/8/3/3/1283383_170x170.jpg 2009-08-11 00:00:00.0 2006-07-11 00:00:00.0 true Kadiatou tra.2084550 469000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2084550&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2084550&variant=data&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3151937&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss Mali Tue, 4 Feb 2003 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Toumani Diabate on Rhapsody Online 3151937 tra.3151937 Toumani Diabate art.33693 0.99 Malicool alb.265453 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/0/7/7/8/648770_170x170.jpg 2003-10-01 00:00:00.0 2003-02-04 00:00:00.0 true Malicool tra.3151937 227000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3151937&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3151937&variant=data&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2084551&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss Mali Tue, 11 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Toumani Diabate on Rhapsody Online 2084551 tra.2084551 Toumani Diabate art.33693 0.99 New Ancient Strings alb.216990 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/8/3/3/1283383_170x170.jpg 2009-08-11 00:00:00.0 2006-07-11 00:00:00.0 true Yamfa tra.2084551 311000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2084551&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2084551&variant=data&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.10851995&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss Mali Tue, 25 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Toumani Diabate on Rhapsody Online 10851995 tra.10851995 Toumani Diabate art.33693 0.99 Boulevard de l'Independance alb.10850275 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/6/8/3/9/1299386_170x170.jpg 2006-07-25 00:00:00.0 2006-07-25 00:00:00.0 true Ya Fama tra.10851995 294000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.10851995&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.10851995&variant=data&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18865321&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss Mali Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Toumani Diabate on Rhapsody Online 18865321 tra.18865321 Toumani Diabate art.33693 0.99 The Mande Variations alb.18859557 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/8/4/1/1541482_170x170.jpg 2008-02-26 00:00:00.0 2008-02-26 00:00:00.0 true Cantelowes tra.18865321 417000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18865321&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18865321&variant=data&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3151930&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss Mali Tue, 4 Feb 2003 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Toumani Diabate on Rhapsody Online 3151930 tra.3151930 Toumani Diabate art.33693 0.99 Malicool alb.265453 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/0/7/7/8/648770_170x170.jpg 2003-10-01 00:00:00.0 2003-02-04 00:00:00.0 true Bamako tra.3151930 389000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3151930&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3151930&variant=data&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.10851993&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss Mali Tue, 25 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Toumani Diabate on Rhapsody Online 10851993 tra.10851993 Toumani Diabate art.33693 0.99 Boulevard de l'Independance alb.10850275 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/6/8/3/9/1299386_170x170.jpg 2006-07-25 00:00:00.0 2006-07-25 00:00:00.0 true Toumani tra.10851993 352000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.10851993&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.10851993&variant=data&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.10851997&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss Mali Tue, 25 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Toumani Diabate on Rhapsody Online 10851997 tra.10851997 Toumani Diabate art.33693 0.99 Boulevard de l'Independance alb.10850275 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/6/8/3/9/1299386_170x170.jpg 2006-07-25 00:00:00.0 2006-07-25 00:00:00.0 true Africa Challenge tra.10851997 345000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.10851997&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.10851997&variant=data&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3151935&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss Mali Tue, 4 Feb 2003 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Toumani Diabate on Rhapsody Online 3151935 tra.3151935 Toumani Diabate art.33693 0.99 Malicool alb.265453 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/0/7/7/8/648770_170x170.jpg 2003-10-01 00:00:00.0 2003-02-04 00:00:00.0 true Johanna tra.3151935 471000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3151935&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3151935&variant=data&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.10851999&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss Mali Tue, 25 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Toumani Diabate on Rhapsody Online 10851999 tra.10851999 Toumani Diabate art.33693 0.99 Boulevard de l'Independance alb.10850275 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/6/8/3/9/1299386_170x170.jpg 2006-07-25 00:00:00.0 2006-07-25 00:00:00.0 true Mamadou Diaby tra.10851999 404000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.10851999&variant=play&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.10851999&variant=data&rws=%2Ftoumani-diabate%2Ftop-tracks.rss