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Djelimady Tounkara
(Mali)
Biography
Djelimady Tounkara is one of the most outstanding guitar players of Mali. As a youngster,
he learnt playing guitar, ngoni and kora, but he chose soon to concentrate on playing guitar. He played in the early days of
Mali's independence in Pioneer Jazz and Orchestre National "A"
before joining the Rail Band in the beginning of the 1970s.
And he still is the solo guitar player of the Super Rail Band until today.
The Rail Band has been the starting point of the musical careers of internationally renowned singers such as Salif Keita and Mory Kante and exists since more than 30 years.
On his first solo album « Sigui », Tounkara chose for an unplugged set, with selected musicians to accompany him. Especially the singers, Lafia Diabaté, brother of the great Kassemady Diabaté, and Samba Sissoko, both singers from the Super Rail Band, as well as the female vocals by Mamany Keita, herself singing in the group Tama, and Fatoumata Tounkara, daughter of Djelimady, are well chosen. The album is well recorded and mixed, and can be recommended.
The second album, out in May 2005, offers the same quality. Here, Tounkara is surrounded by a new group of young musicians and singers.
The Rail Band has been the starting point of the musical careers of internationally renowned singers such as Salif Keita and Mory Kante and exists since more than 30 years.
On his first solo album « Sigui », Tounkara chose for an unplugged set, with selected musicians to accompany him. Especially the singers, Lafia Diabaté, brother of the great Kassemady Diabaté, and Samba Sissoko, both singers from the Super Rail Band, as well as the female vocals by Mamany Keita, herself singing in the group Tama, and Fatoumata Tounkara, daughter of Djelimady, are well chosen. The album is well recorded and mixed, and can be recommended.
The second album, out in May 2005, offers the same quality. Here, Tounkara is surrounded by a new group of young musicians and singers.
Djelimady Tounkara
• Musicians on Sigui:
Djelimady Tounkara lead guitar; author/composer;
Sayon Sissoko ngoni;
Sidiki Camara djembé, calabash;
Xavier Jouvelet percussion;
Noël Ekwabi bass;
Fadiala Diawara rhythm guitar;
Samba Sissoko, Lafia Diabaté, Mamany "Assitan" Keita lead vocal and chorus;
Fatoumata Tounkara chorus.
Djelimady Tounkara lead guitar; author/composer;
Sayon Sissoko ngoni;
Sidiki Camara djembé, calabash;
Xavier Jouvelet percussion;
Noël Ekwabi bass;
Fadiala Diawara rhythm guitar;
Samba Sissoko, Lafia Diabaté, Mamany "Assitan" Keita lead vocal and chorus;
Fatoumata Tounkara chorus.
• Musicians on Solon Kôno:
Djelimady Tounkara lead guitar; author/composer;
Sekou Kante acoustic bass;
Samba Diabaté rhythm guitar;
Mariam "M'Baou" Tounkara vocals;
Mariam "Djodjo" Diabaté vocals;
Samba Sissoko vocals;
Mountaga Diabaté vocals.
Djelimady Tounkara lead guitar; author/composer;
Sekou Kante acoustic bass;
Samba Diabaté rhythm guitar;
Mariam "M'Baou" Tounkara vocals;
Mariam "Djodjo" Diabaté vocals;
Samba Sissoko vocals;
Mountaga Diabaté vocals.
Born: in Kita, Mali
Style: mandingo guitar music
Discography
| Title | Year | Label | Remarks |
| Djely Blues | 2016 | Label Blue / L'Autre Distribution | |
| Allo Bamako | 2007 | Oriki Music ORK002 | Djelimady Tounkara & Super Rail Band International |
| Solon Kôno | 2005 | Marabi Productions 46810-2 | |
| Sigui | 2001 | Indigo LBLC 2580 |
Sources
Page added July 2001