Oumou Sangare at the Apollo Theater

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Oumou Sangare made a much anticipated return to New York, to a full house at the Apollo Theater, saturday Octoer 29th. It is always a special evening when a star from the continent performs on the stage of the reknowned Harlen venue. Oumou dressed in a full length white dress looked elegant and her relaxed presence drew the audience in to the music, and on their feet in the aisles when she turned to uptempo numbers. It was a memorable performance. 

Oumou introduced songs from her new album Timbuktu, and recallled collaborating with Mamadou Sidibe in the states during the pandemic, writing tthe material. Oumou is known as the songbird of Wassallou, the swaying rhythms from south western Mali, that features female vocals, At the Apollo she was accompaied by 7 musicians, two vocalists ad a dancer. Her vocal lines were completed by the two backup singers in an unhurried conversational manner An international group of musicians on traditional stringed instruments kora and ngoni as well as modern instruments - drumkit, electric bass, guitar and keyboards backed her. 

Will Calhoun’s Mali Project opened the show with a short set of music draw from pan-african sources. Performing were Francis Mbappe  on bass and lead vocals, Nonhlanhla Kheswa on vocals, Ibrahim Thioko Diagne on sabar and talking drum, Ousmane Faye on keyboards, Yacouba Sissoko  on kora, and  Will Calhoun  on drums and ambient  indigenous percussion.