Music in My Village? Ali Farka Touré

What music would be playing in my village square? Guitarists from Mali -- Ali Farka Touré, Habib Koite and others. I feel most at home when each instrument plays different yet complimentary rhythms and melodies. I like the languid pace of the Malian music as the hometown favorite. But I also love Latin rhythms, especially Cuban, mixed in with jazz.

I adore polyrhythmic music probably because Dad loved calypso and I grew up overseas and my brother loved music also. Chinese opera every Sunday in Taipei. Festival folk music at our local shrine in Tokyo. Family favorite was a Calypso Christmas. Brother learning blues guitar from the USA -- Blind Lemon Jefferson, Big Bill Broonzie. Then Motown from the USA. Indian music in Hong Kong. Friend's dad from New Zealand had the fabulous jazz collection. Loved Coltrane in high school. Met Duke Ellington and Lionel Hampton when they came through Hong Kong. British bands were big too. Then college and KJAZ on the radio from LA while I wrote my poetry. Then Burmese music on vacations home. Then back to Tokyo and Hiru no Minyo ethnic show on the radio, and friends of world music at Apsaras Café. And my dancer friends reintroduced Balinese music and Indian music. Then got to sing some blues with a band there. Unlucky Woman. Evil Gal's Daughter. Soul Man. Then those friends also started up a samba carnavale in Tokyo that went from a disco in those days and spilled out into the streets a few years after I left.

Was given a cassette of Hamza El Din and adored it. Memorized all the songs. Actually got to meet Hamza when he first visited Tokyo. When we met I said "Hamza-- that's the same name as my favorite musician, Hamza el Din." And it was indeed him. Quite a thrill. Very kind man. Stayed on in Japan to add the shamisen to his repertoire.

Also loved a cassette of Lamine Konte playing the kora.

Came to love African music after returning to the USA this time. Grabbed some Nigerian music by chance, Captain Ebeneezer Obey, and got to see him and his 10 guys at the Fillmore years ago. That was quite exciting. Liked them and Touré Kunda. Then saw a Malian film at the SF Intl Film Festival over 15 years ago and loved that music and sought it out.

Got to see Ali Farka Touré play in San Francisco and danced down in front with Flame.