Wall Street Journal Blog,
Concert Mention
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Salif Keita
w/ Tabou Combo, Lo'Jo
Rumsey Playfield, Central Park
Sunday
Mr. Keita, the extraordinary Malian singer and composer, returns to the U.S. buoyed by new album "La Differénce," on which he shifts away from his familiar horn-and-synth Afro-pop to music largely built around acoustic instruments and polyrhythms on hand-drums and kits. Thus, rather than finding Mr. Keita in front of a hard-charging force, we are drawn to him at a nimble and relaxed center surrounded by intricate, burbling music. Will his stage show be similarly reshaped? His talent warrants his status as global superstar, so he's always worth seeing live, but the question provides added incentive. From Haiti, Tabou Combo blends soul, R&B, carnival and its native compas to create irresistible dance music; Lo'Jo, from France, marries North African music with French folk and chansons.
06/15/10
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