Reviews
Suntou Susso Album: Jaliya Silokamg The Path Of The Griot
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 10
Website: https://suntoususso.bandcamp.com/music
Suntou Susso was a name I knew from his previous lush and upbeat album KANEFONYO and an appearance on a 2017 Seckou Keita album. JALIYA SILOKANG (THE PATH OF THE GRIOT), Susso's latest album shows the path of the 21st Century Griot or West African kora, player and story teller, following a 70s year lineage to be one of many possibilities and pathways. While maybe not as cohesive as the earlier album, 2025's release is, more experimental and offers more possibilities.
With a combination of Suntou Susso's lightning fingers and Mustapha Ceesay's fluttering percussion "Jaliya" and "Badinya" are taken at breakneck speed. "Badinya" a song about family also has Andy Christie's big guitar sound, fusion keyboards and great saxophone stabs from Tomoya Foster. Often the kora is a reflective sound, full of the sounds of rain and water. With Susso the soothing notes are his voice, on these first tracks the kora is an energetic storm. "Barro" and "Janfajang Kano" dials the kora back, with keys and saxophone carrying the strong melody behind a hypnotic vocal. The second track especially is a beautiful illustration of Suntou's more reflective playing and singing. "Joulou Fola" is a perfect pairing of Susso's kora and Ali's son Vieux Farke Toure's distinctive guitar. With just kora, electric guitar, bass guitar and two voices the trio gently swing. I love the furious first tracks, but there is a gentle bubbling rhythm to this track. "Yirolu Bala" continues the gentle dance with a superb vocal, the incredible Mariama Kouyate on second voice and touches of cello.
With Kouyate and Sunto's sweet voices balanced by the more energetic dancehall vocals of Ghanian K. O. G the lush pop of "Lannaya" has international hit written all over it, as does the beautiful, energetic kora and voice led "Jangfa". Standout for me are the sublime duet vocals on "Jula Jekereh" and the pairing of kora and piano. On this traditional song, Suntou's sister Binta Suso's more traditional vocals are just sublime. Hearing Seckou Keita and Omar Sosa's TRANSPARENT WATER and SUBA had opened my ears to kora and piano. "Jula Jekereh" is just as lovely. Sunto played on Seckou's Otchestral album AFRICAN RHAPSODIES. "Tamala" traveller, is the heart of the album revealed with Suntou Susso playing counterpoint with himself on a solo kora. The playing is lively, sensitive and just a delight with the west african instrument sounding at times like a pair of well played acoustic guitars. . If you are just discovering this lyrical instrument then this album with its varied settings, incredible playing and Suntou's fine voice is for you.
Marc Higgins
| Previous | Next |
|---|---|
| Finn Collinson: Byway | Robin Adams: The Beggar |
Recent Reviews
- Zoe Cure:WAVE
- Sarah Irvine:Painted Light
- Richard Trethewey:Richard Gendall's Cornish Protest Songs
- Jon Palmer:All The Day Long Day
- Jim Ghedi:Death of Robin Hood Soundtrack
- Gilbert O'Sullivan:On The Record
- Anna Anise:Aneth
- Strawbs:Grave New World Live - Strawbs 50 Years On
- Pavel Shalman and Boki Radenkovic:Klezmer & Wir
- Mary Dillon, Neil Martin & Dónal O'Connor:North Of Here
Yirolu Bala
Fatea Showcase Sessions
The Fatea Showcase Sessions are a series of downloads featuring acts that we've really enjoyed and think that more people should get the chance to hear.
Pirate is the current session and features 16 fantastic artists check out the website to find out more about them and download your copy
www.fatea-showcase-sessions.co.uk for all the artist information.