All instrumental, solo music by an incredibly talented and unique Kora player. The Kora is a West African stringed instrument which has also been called the lute-harp (by those who need a point of reference). You really have to hear it to believe and appreciate it. I'm an accomplished acoustic and electric guitar player, heavily influenced by a wide variety of classical misic. For long lasting, non-intrusive listenability, I highly recommend this, especially for musicians of stringed instruments, including of course the piano. The melodic and rhytmic counterpoint is phenomenal and unique. I get drawn into it similar to the way that Mozart's Nachtmusik or Vivaldi's Four Seasons do, it's meditative. His later album is very similar, the Mande Variations. I bought them both at the same time. Make no mistake: this is very fine art.

perfect for relaxation... I love playing it in the morning while making breakfast... it brings me a sence of peacefulness and cheers me up at the same time.

Another great album by Toumani Diabate. If you are interested in getting a first album then you might try "New Ancient Strings" but I would recommend anything by this artist, including his hand-picked compilation "Boulevard de l'Independance." Enjoy!

To be honest i'm still xploring west african music and i started collect and hearing about this music only in 2005 and i love this sounds.Its a pity coz i will not be able to collect everything but at least i managed to start somewhere and still looking forward to take advantage of the continent at large. Great sound indeed from my fellow africans.

I own 2 CDs by Toumani Diabate, Kaira and New Ancient Strings. Perhaps it's because I had Kaira first and fell in love with the kora through this CD, but Kaira is definitely my favorite of the two (don't get me wrong - I love both and actively listen to both). On Kaira Toumani Diabate plays solo kora, and when I realized that this was one person playing one instrument with no overdubbing I was floored. The music has so many layers to it, bass lines, rhythm, melody, that it is amazing to know it comes from only ten fingers (not sure how many of those you actually use to play the kora). It is beautiful, complex, ethereal, and somehow motivating all at once.

When I went to the hospital to give birth I brought 2 CDs with me - this one and Putmayo's Music from the Tea Lands collection (I highly recommend this one too). As I played these 2 CDs over and over (and over and over) during labor the hospital staff kept complimenting the music and the atmosphere that it created. Ultimately I gave birth to the Toumani Diabate CD, with the doctor humming along. I still listen to this CD all the time, after having owned it for years! This is a true testament to any music, that it stands the test of time.