La Différence

Performer: Salif Keita
Engineer: Patrice Renson; Lucas Chauvière; Karim Sai; Stuart Bruce...
Producer: Patrice Renson...
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: Personnel: Georges Yammine (alto); Anis Hawi, Antoine Khalife, Mona Smaan, Michel Kheirallah (violin); Angela Hounanian (cello). Audio Mixers: Patrice Renson; Phil Delife. Recording information: Beyrouth, Liban (02/2008); Ferber Studios, Paris (02/2008); La Frette (02/2008); Niger, Djoliba, Mali (02/2008); Patos Studio, Paris (02/2008); Studios Soyuz, Paris (02/2008); Beyrouth, Liban (03/2009); Ferber Studios, Paris (03/2009); La Frette (03/2009); Niger, Djoliba, Mali (03/2009); Patos Studio, Paris (03/2009); Studios Soyuz, Paris (03/2009); Beyrouth, Liban (06/2009-09/2009); Ferber Studios, Paris (06/2009-09/2009); La Frette (06/2009-09/2009); Niger, Djoliba, Mali (06/2009-09/2009); Patos Studio, Paris (06/2009-09/2009); Studios Soyuz, Paris (06/2009-09/2009). Photographers: Beno�t Peverelli; Richard Dumas. Arranger: Patrice Renson. Salif Keita turned 60 in 2009, which was also the year in which the veteran Malian singer recorded most of La Diff�rence (although parts of the album were recorded in 2008). At that age, Keita had nothing left to prove; he had long since established himself as a major figure in Mali's Afro-pop scene. But his desire to excel remained, and he is in fine form throughout La Diff�rence. In contrast to all the keyboards and synthesizers he used back in the 1980s, La Diff�rence has a largely acoustic outlook -- not exclusively acoustic, but largely acoustic. Although some electric instruments are used (including electric guitar and Hammond B-3 organ), acoustic instruments are more prominent. And all those acoustic instruments -- which range from horns to oud (an Arabic lute) to upright bass -- do a lot to give this 49-minute CD its earthy, rootsy character. La Diff�rence is not an album of traditional Malian music; this is modern Malian pop, with a strong Western influence and an obvious appreciation of American blues and R&B as well as French chanson (Mali, after all, is among the Francophone countries in sub-Saharan Africa). But the influence of traditional Malian music is also quite strong, and that East/West blend yields memorable results on haunting tracks such as "Gaffou," "Ekolo d'Amour," "San Ka Na," and "Samiga." Malian music -- both traditional Malian music and contemporary Malian pop -- has long been known for its haunting quality, which this recording most certainly has. La Diff�rence falls shorts of essential, but even so, this excellent album paints a consistently appealing picture of Keita at 59 and 60. ~ Alex Henderson

Billboard (p.44) - "One of the most alluring aspects of Afro-pop singer Salif Keita's sublime new album, LA DIFFERENCE, is its intimate feel." Mojo (Publisher) (p.94) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "Keita the soul singer is a wondrous thing."

Malian musician Salif Keita had an uphill battle on his way to become the country's most renowned singer/songwriter. A direct descendent of Mali's royal family, he was forbidden by custom to become a musician, but he boldly cast aside tradition. A vision-impaired albino, he also had to contend with his culture's superstitions about albino Africans. Nonetheless, in the '60s he began a career that moved through the pioneering Rail Band, through work with the jazz/funk-influenced Les Ambassadeurs, finally emerging as a formidable solo artist in the '80s. His pan-ethnic style incorporates R&B, rock, and jazz along with traditional Malian sounds, and his is a familiar name in the world music Grammy category.

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