Vieux Farka Touré's debut represents a historic passing of the torch from father to son. A highly-talented guitarist, singer, songwriter and percussionist, Vieux Farka Touré crafts songs in the rich Sonrai tradition of his father, famed Malian guitarist Ali Farka Touré.
Vieux's songs are globally-minded music for the new millennium, where ancient African melodies meet reggae and rock on equal footing. The music carries a positive message, and Vieux has spent the last several years promoting the UNICEF "Fight Malaria" campaign to spread awareness about malaria, the number one life-threatening disease for African children.
"It would be impossible for one so young to put across the mystic presence of the enigmatic sage, Ali. But the son has learned well, and he brings a youthful spirit and guitar hero antics to the folklore of Mali, without cheapening it one bit. His voice is strong and clear—if not as craggy and desert whipped as his dad’s was—and he writes beautiful melodies, and delivers his material with effortless ebullience. There is no question that Toure will be a hit on American stages, as at home at blues festivals and jam band gatherings as in traditional world music venues. One left this concert with a very real, and very welcome, feeling that Ali has not left us after all." (Afropop.org)
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