Northern Light, Gambian Night

The Gambian kora player Amadou Bansang Jobarteh awoke many Western listeners to African music two decades ago, and now Dawda, his son, presents an album of such delicacy and beauty that his father would be proud. For this collection, Dawda has created a rich, original sound helped by an international line-up including the outstandingly versatile Danish guitarist Preben Carlsen and Ghanaian bass player Nana Osibio. Brief appearances by the former John McLaughlin flautist Shashank Subrinayam are a bonus.

Having begun as a percussionist, Dawda took up the kora after moving to Denmark; ‘Karang Folo’ (First Lesson) tells the story through beautifully familiar traditional melodies and cascading notes. He wafts through ‘Nkanakele’, a song for his children voicing his concerns about wars, and creates a dreamy meditative atmosphere that merges perfectly with Dawda's playing. Dawda's magical kora is often interwoven with Carlsen's guitar, revealing a profound understanding of the instrument's tuning and harmonies, with Osibio's throaty basslines underlying most songs. Neither overpower the delicacy of the kora – until ‘Dingding Do’, that is. It begins sweetly with a soft women's chorus (provided by singers from Salif Keita's band) behind Dawda's pained vocals about his harsh childhood before the surprise of the album – a psychedelic Hendrix guitar spree from Carlsen. Many of Dawda's songs carry similarly weighty lyrics: even the sweetest, ‘Nakono’ (My Love), is decrying the pain caused by polygamy. But you would never know amongst such beauty.