Kela Tradition (1990)

"Mady was born into the musical Diabate family, performing traditional music as a youth for ceremonies. In 1972, at the insistence of the government, he gave up a farming career to join the state Orchestre Badema as their lead singer, remaining with them for the next 12 years and performing traditionally-based material with a modern sound. In 1983, he left for a solo career, pursuing the same goal of combining old and new while building up a major overseas reputation. He moved to Europe in the late '80s, where he really hit his recording stride, making some of his best music. On this album, Kela Tradition, Kasse Mady (like many others) mixes guitar with nkoni and balafon in a superb extension of the griot tradition into which he was born." (Allmusic)