Toumani Diabaté comes from a long line of Malian kora players, the kora being a 21-string harp crafted from a halved calabash gourd and cow skin, with nylon strings. This is only his second solo album from a large discography - the first one was in 1988. He has however recorded duet albums, like the lyrical New Ancient Strings with another talented kora player Ballake Cissoko and more recently a gently mesmerising In The Heart of The Moon, with the late Ali Farka Toure. He then assembled the enormous Symmetric Orchestra to record Boulevard de L'independence, a funky but somewhat noisy dance extravaganza where his usual subtlety was set aside.

Now he comes full circle back to his roots with a fascinating and gorgeous Mande Variations for solo kora (albeit with a few overdubs), a suite of original compositions, including a tribute to Ali Farka Toure. This is true griot-based music (despite the brief allusion to the Good Bad & the Ugly at one point), but don't think because he plays a primitive instrument the music is likewise. It is sophisticated, elaborate music - perhaps the sound equivalent of the most exquisite Berber carpet - washing over the listener with lush melodies and rhythms that are expanded with extraordinarily virtuosic improvisations. He is certainly at his brilliant best here - clear, confident, subtle and mesmerising, confirming once again his place as one of the masters of this beautiful and distinctive instrument.

Another quietly beautiful and reflective masterpiece from Toumani Diabate. He is by far one of the most luminous West African musicians the world has been honored to listen to. I would probably never get to listen to him live, so this is as good as it gets for me! And I'm never disappointed with his albums. At once spiritual and tender, not to be missed...because if you haven't discovered it,the kora is the instrument which is connected to our heartstrings and our mind's inflections. Savor it, find yourself in it.

Toumani Diabaté, the kora guru of Africa, has outdone himself with this collection of solo instrumental pieces. The virtuosity in fingering the kora, the richness of the rhythms and range of melodies is unmatched by anything this Malian musician has done previously. I enjoyed his earlier solo collection, "Kaira", produced twenty years ago and his "New Ancient Strings" (1999), with which he and the younger Ballake Sissoko paid homage to their fathers' musical genius. Yet now, with this CD he has reached a level of maturity, depth and musicality not previously achieved. For fans of the West African kora, this is a must in their collection; for the "newbies", this is a great introduction into a mesmerizing aspect of Malian music and treat to enjoy over and over again. It will very likely become addictive. This is music to lose yourself in.

Toumani Diabaté comes from a long line of Malian musicians. His father was the most famous kora player of his time and Toumani often pays credit to him through his music. Nonetheless, the younger Diabaté has refined the abilities of the instrument and enriched the playing techniques over the years. Elements of these could already be detected in the award winning "In The Heart of the Moon", a collaboration with the legendary guitarist, the late Ali Farka Touré. Toumani, being largely self-taught, has been open to experimenting with this traditional instrument, without abandoning its unique sound and complex harmonies. As he traveled the world, he absorbed and learned from other musical cultures, such as Indian classical music, flamenco and blues. The compositions on this CD harmoniously integrate such influences with melodies and rhythms of the past. All are his, or presented in his adaptation. Soft melodies that seem to tell gentle stories alternate with more vivacious and energetic pieces. Not surprisingly, a special homage is included for Ali Farka that he would have treasured. Toumani's extraordinary technical skill lets him expand the fingering to incorporate the bass line as an accompaniment creating the impression that two koras are playing. Furthermore, recently Toumani has been experimenting, successfully as the pieces here exemplify, with two differently strung koras, one for the traditional melodies and harmonies, the other for his more "modern" compositions. The photos in the included booklet show the details of the finger settings. The explanations of the background to the two kora stringings and insights into the stories behind each piece are written by the musician himself. A beautiful gift to yourself or for people you care deeply about. [Friederike Knabe]

This is a fantastic album from Toumani Diabate which brings out the beauty of the kora. Diabate is a master at this instrument and he weaves magic into his tunes. It is easy to drift away into a fantasyland while listening to his soothing yet fully alive music. Also, for people familiar with Indian music, the instrument (or perhaps Diabate's playing) sounds a little like the santoor (dulcimer) even though it is very different in design. Si Naani, Elyne Road, Kaounding Cissko and Cantelowes are my favorites. You can't go wrong with this album.

This is another great complation of music. Toumani Diabate is one of my favorite artists. His humility comes through in all his music and this CD is no exception. I play this and other of his work during parties, family gatherings etc and someone ALWAYS says how deep and meaningful it is, as well as beautiful - even those whose only concept of music is classic rock!!