Bush Taxi Mali: Field Recordings from Mali is an aural tour through the heart of Mali. These field recordings were made by Tucker Martine in 1998 while traveling throughout the West African country. This blend of bluesy ngonis, clamoring street sounds, the stunning voice of Jalimusa Amanita Diabaté (of the famous Diabaté family), passing radios, Fulani flutes, runaway sound systems, and chants from the Dogon country creates a unique portrait of Mali's rich musical heritage. Eventually Martine found himself in the backseat of a beat-up Peugeot on his way to the village of Kela, a Jeli village, where the songs and traditions of the Mande people have been scrupulously preserved. Some of the musical performances heard on this LP were made during that visit. Bush Taxi Mali is a strikingly original tapestry of the ancient traditions of Mali in the modern era. Limited edition LP reissue of the original 2005 CD in a heavy-duty tip-on jacket with gorgeous, redesigned front and back cover photos, including a two-sided insert featuring liner notes by producer Tucker Martine and his photographs of the musicians.
These field recordings were made by Tucker Martine in 1998 while traveling throughout the West African country of Mali.