Jakso Star Downloads

Jakso Star is Gaoussou “Vieux” Karounta (lead vocals, guitar, words, music) and Modibo “Van” Diallo (calabash and backup vocals) from Sevare, Mali. Imagine yourself drifting down the Niger River on a pirogue---a warm breeze flapping the boubou of the boatman as he gently... Learn More »

Jakso Star is Gaoussou “Vieux” Karounta (lead vocals, guitar, words, music) and Modibo “Van” Diallo (calabash and backup vocals) from Sevare, Mali.

Imagine yourself drifting down the Niger River on a pirogue---a warm breeze flapping the boubou of the boatman as he gently dips a pole into the muddy bottom of the shallow river, easing the boat along in the quiet waters.  Up the bank, minarets of a tiny mosque, made of the same mud, rise upwards, orange in the evening light.  A prayer echoes mournfully across the water.  Hop on a motor scooter to a sun-baked family courtyard, where a bleating sheep accompanies the dull, rhythmic thud of millet dough being pounded for dinner.  This is the scene in which this recording was made.  Vieux Gaoussou, a 29 year old Malian singer-songwriter and guitarist, sat down and played a dozen of his own songs on a beat-up old guitar, capo’d to salvage a broken string tied in a knot.  The cultural lineage of Ali Farka Toure and Boubacar Traore was shining bright, with Vieux’s high, almost feminine voice singing of love, jealousy, and human nature in the languages of Mali: Banbara, Fulfulade, and French.  His sweet melodies and elaborate rhythms and riffs were accompanied by young rasta percussionist Van Diallo on the calabash half-shell.  Dinner is served from a big communal bowl, and chewy pieces of fresh dough are dipped into salty fish and okra soup. The sun has set, and under a vast dome of stars, Van takes Vieux home to his wife and 2 kids on the back of a motor scooter, through the cooling dust, to get ready for a long day as a truck driver.  The sheep stops bleating, and all is quiet for a little while.

Guitar, vocals and calabash from Mali in the tradition of Ali Farka Toure and Boubacar Traore

TRACK LISTING
1. Jakso Star (Bambara)
2. Fote mogo ya ban (Don’t listen to bad words) (Bambara)
3. Mi de sipa (Milk and vitamins) (Fulfulde)
4. Ne demba (to the mother of my child) (Bambara, French)
5. Moun be la, cherie (What’s up, my love?) (Bambara)
6. Abaraka Allah (thanks to god) (Bambara)
7. Muso kafo (to women) (Bambara, French)
8. Yada magni (it’s better not to boast) (Bambara)
9. Koniya diougou (jealousy) (Bambara)
10. Djon be ni djane ba (everyone has problems)    (Bambara)
11. Laban ko kassi (nobody knows their own fate) (Bambara)
12. Garba Mama (tribute to Garba Mama) (Bambara)
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