Taking a chance on new music can seem overwhelming but not when it features drumming at its best. The upcoming release Wassoulou Foli features drumming virtuoso Amadou ‘Taga’ Sidibe and friends ‘Tu’ Sinayoko from the independent record label Kanaga System Krush (K.S.K.).

The album is a wealth of listening pleasure in an epic level of musicality and pairing together with ‘Tu’ Sinayoko’s divine vocals. The beats and verses resonate with the influences of Jazz, The Blues, Funk and Hip Hop offering them as an authentic audio journey into the rhythms of West Africa. Label founder Aja Salvatore says “it is an album of soulful singing and drumming from one of my favorite musical regions in Mali. One can hear a lot of “funk” in these beats.”

Amadou ‘Taga’ Sidibe is a renown figure throughout Mali drawing crowds by the thousands. He is both a revered hunter and musician versed in Sogonikun. A kind of music typically performed during ceremonies meant to uplift and beat back negativity. He is often called on to hype up audiences and entertain the occasional bush spirit he says. Listeners around the globe now get the chance to take in this soulful experience. This is his first headlining album, showcasing his superlative skills with complex drum solos roaring between verse and chorus. Oz Fritz, a Sound Engineer and collaborator with Bill Laswell, Herbie Hancock, Bob Marley and many others calls “Taga a master, and Tu’s voice angelic.” Fritz hails “This is an amazing album!”

Amadou ‘Taga’ Sidibe represents one of the last bastions of traditional djembe drumming played in contrast to the all too common ballet style. Staid and true, his répertoire has been passed down through an ancient lineage. Learning at the hands of Mansa Bagayoko, Taga was hand picked to rigorously study drumming and continue an authentic tradition so integrated into daily life. Whatever challenges one might face, music remains a source of wisdom and healing for the soul.

Joining Taga with lead vocals is the novice and up-and-coming songstress ‘Tu’ Sinayoko. She sets her sights to be the next ‘Songbird of Wassoulou’ with her passionate vocals so emotive and uplifting. Her voice remains in perfect key, as she magically weaves through verse upon verse. On chorus are vocals by Sita Diarra with Shaka Diallo accompanying on the Djembe and Lansine Sidibe on the Konkoni. Last but not least on the Bari Dun Dun and Konkoni is Taga’s lifelong musical companion, Yakoub Sidibe. The incredible interplay between Taga and Yakoub has been honed since childhood when they first began playing together more than thirty years ago on the Kamalen N’Goni. The keenest of ears can sometimes hear up to forty variations of a single rhythm.

In addition to Wassoulou Foli, Taga and Tu join other renown Malian musicians to be featured in “Music in Mali: Life is Hard, Music is Good” a feature-length documentary on musicians and musical traditions from West Africa also produced by Kanaga System Krush (K.S.K.) and due out Summer 2012.