In one episode of the series “The Blues” Martin Scorsese is looking for the roots of the blues in Mali in the east of Africa.
How the African roots of the blues are familiar to us, we can see listening Terakaft.
The group recently performed at the club Rhythm Room in Phoenix, Arizona, as part of their tour in the United States.
Glenn BurnSilver in Phoenix New Times, described his impressions of the concert:
To call it desert blues would be too easy a simplification — and somewhat ironic, given that the banjo and guitar hail from Mali and the blues existed here long before U.S. musicians adopted the form — simply because there is so much going on in each song. The key, and highlight this evening, was the overlapping guitar melodies, already sounding slightly off-kilter for the high, almost “nasally” tones. Bluesy, yes, but certainly not downtrodden.
Terakaft has been slowly developing a name for itself since forming in 2001.The band is only a four-piece, less formidable than fellow Malian artists Tinariwen, but the music, at its core, still carries the message from the people.
Read full article here : http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/uponsun/2013/11/terakaft-touareg-photos.php
Surely, Terakaft it is not a pure blues. However, this music is very inspiring. Extremely trance songs sounds like John Lee Hooker music.. This music is exotic but somhow familliar. Listen to this:
What is astonishing is how they keep a traditional culture alive with western instruments. This music uniquely communicates their struggles, their restricted travels, their life with and away from friends, and their love of the desert. They are Africa’s last remaining nomads.
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