New Ancient Strings (1999)/ Nouvelles Cordes Anciennes

"Toumani Diabate is one of the finest contemporary kora players. Diabate teams with Ballake Sissoko for this collection of African harp duets. Recorded in one take in Diabate's native Mali, "New Ancient Strings" is at once ethereal and earthy." (Heather Phares, Allmusic) "Toumani Diabate breathes music, and when he played this 1999 set (his first acoustic recording in ten years), he took an incredibly tender approach to the world of sound, crafting a sonic universe shot through with the kind of emotion that can't be verbalized, only recognized. He and collaborator Ballake Sissoko paid homage to their fathers with this release. Essential." (Sarah Bardeen, Rhapsody)