Vieux Kante: The Young Man’s Harp (Sterns, 2016). I was listening to the 2014 recording Sans Commentaire and I had it slotted as an Honorable Mention record because while there are spots on that record where he lets it all hang out there is a slightly restrained feel to the playing.
I was about to stream that record and finish that honorable mention when I saw this record which just came out and he absolutely tears it out on the first tune. 7 full minutes of virtuoso koura playing (it’s the first track clipped below). Anybody into great rock guitarists should check that tune out. The second tune, Lambanco, is a full band effort with both a kit drummer and a hand drummer and vocals (the opening track is an instrumental).
Not only is Kante a musician who has risen to a level rarely seen in any genre he’s got a slamming band backing him up on this record. They’re all great but I hear the bass player pulling at my ear the most.
You’re only lowering the quality of your life by not checking out this music.
This tune clipped below is a full band effort which I found to be super high quality.
The Cross Pollinator 