Mississippi To Mali

Rating

Album: Mississippi To Mali
#	Song Title		Time
1)	Coahoma	More Info...	1:49
2)	Big Road Blues	More Info...	3:06
3)	Special Rider Blues	More Info...	4:54
4)	Tamalah	More Info...	6:41
5)	Back Atcha	More Info...	3:28
6)	Rokie	More Info...	3:46
7)	La Chanson des Bozos	More Info...	4:21
8)	Mr. Turner	More Info...	4:44
9)	Cypress Grove	More Info...	3:02
10)	Station Blues	More Info...	2:41
11)	.44 Blues	More Info...	7:28
12)	Njarka	More Info...	3:57
13)	Charlene	More Info...	5:01
14)	Catfish Blues	More Info...	6:39
15)	Dark Was The Night, Cold Was The Ground	More Info...	3:28

Album: Mississippi To Mali
#	Song Title		Time
1)	Coahoma	More Info...	1:49
2)	Big Road Blues	More Info...	3:06
3)	Special Rider Blues	More Info...	4:54
4)	Tamalah	More Info...	6:41
5)	Back Atcha	More Info...	3:28
6)	Rokie	More Info...	3:46
7)	La Chanson des Bozos	More Info...	4:21
8)	Mr. Turner	More Info...	4:44
9)	Cypress Grove	More Info...	3:02
10)	Station Blues	More Info...	2:41
11)	.44 Blues	More Info...	7:28
12)	Njarka	More Info...	3:57
13)	Charlene	More Info...	5:01
14)	Catfish Blues	More Info...	6:39
15)	Dark Was The Night, Cold Was The Ground	More Info...	3:28

Performer Notes

Personnel: Corey Harris (vocals, guitar); Ali Farka Toure (vocals, guitar, njarka); Ali Magassa (guitar, background vocals); Sharde Thomas (fife, background vocals); Bobby Rush (harmonica); Sam Carr (drums); Darrell Rose (djembe, sabar lam, bougrabou); Souleyman Kane (percussion, background vocals); Rising Star Fife & Drum Band.
Recorded between March 2002 & September 2003. Includes liner notes by Corey Harris.
Personnel: Corey Harris (vocals, guitar, background vocals); Ali Magassa (vocals, guitar, background vocals); Ali Farka Tour‚ (vocals, guitar); Shard‚ Thomas (vocals, fife); Otha Andre Evans (vocals, bass drum); Bobby Rush (harmonica); Aubrey Turner (drums, bass drum); Sam Carr (drums); R.L. Boyce (snare drum); Darrell Rose (djembe, sabar, percussion); Souleymane Kan‚ (percussion, background vocals).
Audio Mixer: Jeff Romano.
Recording information: Dundee, MS (03/2002-09/2003); Greenwood Studios, Greenwood, VA (03/2002-09/2003); Senatobia, MS (03/2002-09/2003).
Author: Corey Harris.
Photographers: Corey Harris; Jamal Millner.
Arranger: Ali Farka Tour‚.
While the relationship between American blues and its West African cousin has been an obsession of many blues enthusiasts ever since Ry Cooder teamed up with Ali Farka Toure on 1994's TALKING TIMBUKTU, few records have explored the connection with the nuance and ingenuity of Corey Harris's MISSISSIPPI TO MALI. Conceptualized when Harris participated in the 2003 Martin Scorcese documentary, THE BLUES, the album uniquely synthesizes elements of delta and desert blues. Featuring guests such as the abovementioned Toure, drum and fife prodigy Sharde Thomas, and harmonica legend Bobby Rush, MISSISSIPPI TO MALI features Harris's original compositions next to African traditional songs and Skip James classics. With each tradition informing the other in new ways, Harris has crafted a beautiful and souful acoustic blues tableau that moves the genre forward by looking back.

Professional Reviews

Entertainment Weekly (11/28/03, p.127) - "...This riveting CD [is] a summitt meeting where boundaries dissolve in the melting pot." - Rating: B+

Uncut (3/04, p.99) - 3 stars out of 5 - "[T]his album should soon resonate through European concert halls. Good stuff."

Living Blues (1/04, pp.40-1) - "[A] stunning achievement that brings the blues' relationship with Africa to the present day and recasts blues as world music."d

Mojo (Publisher) (p.97) - 3 stars out of 5 - "[T]he best tracks are those where Harris draws on his own inheritance, like 'Big Road Blues' and '.44 Blues'."