sunday afternoon march 9th adelaide botannical gardens
apparantly on this afternoon it got to 40 degrees celsius
most daytime attendees at womadelaide were under trees
or staying away until the relief of sunset
the previous night i had witnessed a truely memorable concert
toumani diabate's symmetric orchestra on the main stage
another brilliant example of african music at it's best
on this afternoon his cousin mamadou was due on a minor stage
rumours circulated that toumani would join him in a duet or 2
so my afternoon activities centred around getting to this show
which meant in my usual style sacrificing a prior performance
to ensure a good position for the show of choice
i arrived at the zoo stage about 20 minutes before time
plonked myself down a few metres from the stage
and waited with anticipation for mamadou diabate to appear
he's a big man with a beautiful and modest personality
did all but apologise for not being as good as his famous cousin
but anyone who can pull a tune from the kora is no slouch
mamadou played a largely solo set in the blistering heat
that brilliantly demonstrated the complexity of the instrument
this 21-stringed instrument is a bass, rhythm and lead guitar all in one
it takes a lifetime to master it with skills passed down the generations
tuning the instrument in itself must require great skill
throughout his set mamadou would be seen to be bending the neck
or stopping a tune to take some action that seemed necessary
amplification of the instrument serves it very well
at times with my eyes closed i could hear electric guitars
a solid bass line, harpsichord sounding melodies
occassionally the strum of an acoustic guitar or picking of a mandolin
but then open the eyes to behold one man and his instrument
by the time he excitedly introduced his special guest
i was happily lost in the performance and oblivious to the heat
toumani took the time to remind us just how highly regarded mamadou is
he's been nominated for grammy awards and is in high demand
which just meant as a duet we were in for a real treat
there had been no rehearsal for this performance
so it was based largely on instinct, feel, connection
just like the best jazz performance should be
another reference point
just an amazing show
toumani diabate in performance with his cousin mamadou
upon taking the stage he took the time to make 2 statements
firstly anyone who can play even 1 tune on the kora is a master
thereby suitably paying homage to the reverential mamadou
secondly he very sincerely reminded this small audience
that we were very lucky to witness this rare collaboration
no argument from me - a truely exceptional womad moment
