Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba -- Segu Blue (Poyi)

Comment by Mark Weems on October 18, 2012 at 9:58pm

Bassekou Kouyate is a west African ngoni (one of the possible prototypes for our banjo) playing griot. As a griot, one of his main interests is in preserving traditional forms of music. He also likes to push the envelope and has developed a way to present the instrument to a modern audience.

Comment by Nicholas A Bechtel on October 19, 2012 at 3:44pm

Where did you find this. I hear the blues type scale in some of this. Very cool.

Comment by Nicholas A Bechtel on October 19, 2012 at 3:47pm

I found this on Amazon..http://www.amazon.com/Segu-Blue-Bassekou-Kouyate/dp/B000LSA8HG

You think this is a good introduction to this music, or do you recommend other recordings.

Comment by Mark Weems on October 20, 2012 at 2:24pm

Yes, that's probably the best one for more of an African experience. He's also been influenced more recently by American blues music and this is reflected in their newer record.

I've spent a good bit of time on youtube watching West African griots play their instruments. The master that I've been watching recently and trying to learn some finger techniques from is the griot Sambe Guisse. Check out http://banjo.hotmusicpoint.com/art-of-the-xalam-hoddu/

This man can do just about anything with his fingers - stroke, up-picking, vibrato....and all within the same piece of music - extremely cool!

Comment by Nicholas A Bechtel on October 20, 2012 at 2:43pm

Thanks Mark, Man I'm going in all directions...so many cool things popping up here. Regarding the gourd banjo you were playing; what is the tuning and is it only 4 strings. I thought I saw just 4. Is the intonation regarding tone intervals on the neck about the same as a banjo or is it much wider. too many questions...wish I could play around on one. That's one thing about these instruments they are built upon request never get a chance to listen before deciding what you want. Thanks for the info.

Comment by Mark Weems on October 20, 2012 at 5:02pm

It's four strings, like they would have been back in the day. It's the bass string that is missing. It plays just like your minstrel banjo except that if you want to play a piece that utilizes the fourth string (and there really aren't that many of these in the earliest banjo music) you have to change form a bit and play up the neck, just like on a ukulele for instance. It does take a little time to get used to, but not as much as you'd think.

Comment by Ian Bell on October 21, 2012 at 7:30am

That's like time travelling in two directions at once. Buddy Guy with a gourd. Thanks for posting!

Comment by Mark Weems on October 21, 2012 at 11:00pm

Exactly! Here's one of my Bassekou favorites. What is amazing to me is how such a modern beat/rhythm section sound can come out of what is essentially three gourds of various sizes. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znH1DtD9UBE&feature=related

Comment by rick Ceballos on October 22, 2012 at 6:30am

the Ngoni body is wood not gourd. It is a small hollowed out log that looks like a dug out canoe.

Comment by Mark Weems on October 22, 2012 at 8:34am

Yes, it is made of wood. I was speaking of its sound quality in general, which to me (possibly due to its bowl shaped back and sound hole) resembles more of a gourd sound than say, a typical wood framed instrument.

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