Toumani & Sidiki Diabaté

A late Brighton Festival show due to it being initially cancelled (because of problems regarding Sidiki’s visa), it was well worth the wait as the father and son master kora players produced a glorious performance that received a standing ovation from a busy house that was totally rapt and bewitched by the mix of virtuoso playing, intricate melodies and compositional skill. The programme of duets was based on their recent album (never have I seen such a scrum at the end of a concert for an act’s merchandise!) , a coming together of the 71st and 72nd generations of a family of Mandean (West African) griots. Mainly performing a series of traditional instrumentals whose titles have been updated reflecting modern life in their region, the rather physically frail Toumani informed us that his son is somewhat of a superstar in Africa, for other, non-traditional musical projects, but that the baton is very much safe in his hands. And it is, as Sidiki let fly on many occasions, the kora in particular lending itself to seemingly supernatural displays of dexterity, velocity, and sheer beauty. The final track – Lampedusa, the one ‘original’ on the album, was an appropriately poignant affair, in commemoration of the 300 African migrants who perished off the Italian island of that name last year.

Tuesday 3 June, Brighton Dome Concert Hall

Rating:

Jeff Hemmings