A Touma

Album review

After Djourou, a busy, eclectic album for which the Malian kora virtuoso brought in numerous artists (Sona Jobarteh, Vincent Ségal, Salif Keita, Oxmo Puccino, Camille and even Feu! Chatterton) for musical dialogues with his enchanted, racing strings, Ballaké Sissoko offers us an introspective record. A Touma brings together eight pieces recorded at the Sainte-Apolline chapel in Belgium. These pieces were recorded in a single afternoon, in between sessions for Djourou. Two of the eight pieces, Demba Kunda and Mande Tabolo, appear on both albums. For 39 minutes we are drawn into the heart of a virtuoso in meditation, an intimate relationship between a musician and the instrument through which he has reached the pinnacle of his art. In A Touma, which means "now is the time", Ballaké Sissoko expresses the essence of his noble tradition, enriched by his own dynamic and atmospheric innovations, magnificently inspired by the sacred nature of the venue and an acute perception of the passage of time. Some moments are more precious than others, and for the musician to share this one with us is a truly generous act. © Benjamin MiNiMuM/Qobuz