Bamako Is a Miracle
Roswell Rudd : Trombone
Toumani Diabaté : Kara
Verna Gillis : Producer
A 2002 collaboration between Roswell Rudd and kora master Toumani Diabaté in Bamako, Mali.
”Roswell and I began collaborating together in 1999. In 2000 , I got a 3 record deal from Universal -The first CD I produced with Roswell was his reunion with the great Archie Shepp. For our next undertaking we went to MALI. I had met Toumani Diabate, the master Kora player, in London in the 1980's when I was managing Youssou Ndour. Toumani over the years had the recorded with other artists and open to this kind of musical exploration. We went to Mali to record in 2001. All the musicians were excellent. The Studio was excellent It had its difficult moments as most things do. MALIcool is the resulting CD and has become a classic. The composition BAMAKO has been recorded by many other musicians including Steve Lacy, Archie Shepp, Michael Doucet & Beau Soleil, and Sunny Kim. Roswell took the trombone to many places it had never been before”.
-Verna Gillis
About the Artists
ROSWELL RUDD (trombone), is proudly of the tradition that has given us such jazz trombone greats as Jack Teagarden, Kid Ory, J.J. Johnson, and Joseph Nanton. One of the most imaginative, stimulating players, Rudd is known for his work with groundbreaking groups and musicians like Herbie Nichols, the NEW YORK ART QUARTET, Cecil Taylor, Archie Shepp, Carla Bley, and Steve Lacy.
His trailblazing on the trombone has influenced an entire generation of trombonists who hear his extroverted gut bucket stylings as the modern incarnation of the New Orleans style. He has equally a passionate lyricism in the tradition of American folk songs and ballads.
Roswell Rudd has received international recognition as a performer, and for his compositions and arrangements ranging from large scale music dramas to instrumental jazz suites. His jazz operas BLUES FOR PLANET EARTH and GOLD RUSH have achieved cult status from their performances in the 1960’s. From 1999 to the present have been his Soundscape years marked by his collaboration with Verna Gillis. Rudd is one of the giants. His active playing force is to be greatly welcomed, with his larger-than-life individualism.
For complete discography and more information
http//www.roswellrudd.com