"Solon Kono", was the last of the recent recording from Djelimady Tounkara. Recored with follow Malian musicians at the Studio Bogolan, Bamako, Mali in 2004 it was finally released in North America in 2006. Sadly his recordings are now only available as digital downloads. However you can now enjoy his early recordings on the Belle Epoque double CD series.

The Super Rail Band's 2001 North American tour coincided with the European release of Djelimady Tounkara's "Sigui" CD (Indigo, Label Bleu, 2001). Known for his fiery lead electric guitar playing with the Rail Band, Djelimady displays his virtuoso acoustic guitar work on this release. Sigui showcases Djelimady playing his Takamine acoustic with a personally selected ensemble of Malian musicians, featuring ngoni (African lute) djembe and driving vocals. Superably recorded, with HDCD encoding, "Sigui" delivers really exceptional sonics.

There are also recordings of the Rail Band with Djelimady playing electric guitar. The first one, Super Rail Band de Bamako, is lacking in both sonics and performance. However the 1995 release "Mansa" (Manding for king) is superior, in both respects. Giving up recording quality in favor of character and spirit is the French Import, "Rail Band" (Sono Disc). This archival recording features vocals by Mory Kanté and Salif Ketia. The recordings are old, in mono and quality is poor, however the music is killer. If you are into the real Manding music, you will love this CD.

Other acoustic Manding guitar music from Djelimady

The 1993 recording "Big String Theory" featured Djelimady with Bouba Sacko both playing acoustic guitar joined by male vocalist Lafia Diabate. The music contained in the recording is a shade mellower then Sigui but still shows off Djelimady's ability to it's fullest. This recording is currently out of print but Cora Connection has managed to get the remaining copies.

For more information on these recordings and the Rail band please visit:

• Cora Connection's Djelimady Tounkara profile
• BBC profiles Djelimady Tounkara
  winner of the 2002 BBC Radio 3 World Music Award
• The Leopardman's African Music Guide
• Super Rail Band plays The Virginia Museum Of Fine Arts 2001

More on Big String Theory

This project was instigated in 1992 by Globestyle Records' Ben Mandelson. The idea was to make a fiery, acoustic recording of the Malian music known as "bajourou"- literally "big string" or "big tune." This recording focusses on guitars highlighting intricate exchanges between two of this genre's top guitar players: Djelimady Tounkara and Bouba Sacko. Intent on bringing these two great players together for the first time. Mandelson and Lucy Duran travelled to the Mali capital, Bamako. Djelimady Tounkara is best known as lead guitarist of the Super Rail Band--the band that launched the careers of both Salif Keita and Mory Kante. Bouba Sacko has an impressive career of accompanying top jelimoussow--female griot singers--including the great Kandia Kouyate. President of Mali's fledgling music union and former Rail Band singer Lafia Biabate completed the team. Big String Theory was recorded direct to DAT in Bamako on acoustic instruments, and the session was followed by a 1993 tour of the UK. Critics were immediately won over by the group's dynamic energy. Bringing Tounkara and Sacko together was an idea that would never have happened without the input of the two English producers. While the two guitarists remain friends, they have never palyed together in recent years. So this recording has the added spark of two masters jostling for position in each others' worlds. Folk Roots editor Ian A. Anderson admitted to crying when he first heard the album because of its pure, unadulterated emotional power. -- Banning Eyre