Live in Basel

Baba Sissoko’s sound is unashamedly grounded in the classic sounds of Chicago blues pioneered by the likes of Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf. From the opening bars of ‘Hey Baby Blues’, the setlist is characterised by overdriven electric guitar solos, sleazy harmonica trills and repetitive call-and-response vocals. As the album progresses, Sissoko increasingly expands the timbral palette by incorporating West African instrumentation into the sonic mix. Sissoko’s use of a traditional ngoni brings a woody, lute-like tone to the improvisations on tracks such as ‘Bakadaji’ and ‘Masaya’. The clarinet solo on closing track ‘Bibisa’ evokes a subtle New Orleans jazz flavour. Live in Basel is an enjoyable exploration of the West African roots of US blues, and the raw intimacy of the live setting certainly enhances Sissoko’s powerful vocals and the extended solos. That being said, there are several moments where the recordings feel a bit rough around the edges.