Acoustic Africa: Habib Koité & Vusi Mahasela at Kuumbwa Jazz Center

Malian guitarist/vocalist Habib Koité reunites with South African singer Vusi Mahasela for a journey back to Acoustic Africa, a celebration of traditional African song. Koité, one of the most popular and eclectic musicians to ever come out of Mali, is a self-taught performer who fashioned his sound from a number of ethnic and regional styles native to his home country. His unusual approach to the guitar employs a pentatonic tuning played on open strings with a sprinkling of blues and flamenco influences. He calls it danssa doso, and it has caught the attention of notable admirers as far-flung as Jackson Browne, Eric Bibb, and the Art Ensemble of Chicago...

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Malian guitarist/vocalist Habib Koité reunites with South African singer Vusi Mahasela for a journey back to Acoustic Africa, a celebration of traditional African song. Koité, one of the most popular and eclectic musicians to ever come out of Mali, is a self-taught performer who fashioned his sound from a number of ethnic and regional styles native to his home country. His unusual approach to the guitar employs a pentatonic tuning played on open strings with a sprinkling of blues and flamenco influences. He calls it danssa doso, and it has caught the attention of notable admirers as far-flung as Jackson Browne, Eric Bibb, and the Art Ensemble of Chicago. Blues maven Bonnie Raitt compares his impact on the international music community to Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn. Raitt says, “With his combination of chops and soul, he’s the most amazing guitarist I’ve heard in years.” Habib’s musical partner, Vusi Mahasela, is a distinctive, powerful singer knick-named “The Voice” back in his homeland. Shortly after the release of his debut album, Vusi gained worldwide attention with his electrifying performance at Nelson Mandela’s historic inauguration in 1994. This is Mahasela and Koité’s fourth international tour as Acoustic Africa since 2006.

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