Salif Keita@The Conga Room 04.06.11
By George W. Harris

There are just certain things you don’t see every day. Even in LA, let alone the Conga Room. This gorgeous evening, however, the acoustically perfect club was the scene of a) a descendant t of the founder of the Mali Empire b) an albino African c) a singer with absolute no personal dynamics, but still able to hold every eye attentive. In other words, singer Salif Ketia, still going strong in his sixties, came to town and turned the hip LA club into a festive celebration of life, hope and love.

Backed by a band that included 2 singers, a left handed kora player (again, how often…?) a keyboardist, two guitarists, a bassist, drummer, percussionist and a guy who played only the gourd and high hat (dare I repeat myself?), Keita came on stage and sang songs from his wondrous new release (La Difference) that mixed sounds and vibes akin to a Santana music fest as well as the arid climate of the Sahel desert.

Tunes like “San Ka Na” and “Seydou” featured intoxicating rivulets of rhythm provided by the lithe and funky band, while Keita, dressed in white shined out like a full moon on a dark night in the Dogon Cliffs, as his voice rolled, bounced and changed in dynamics with mesmerizing effect with declaratory chants. The galloping percussion was able to turn into a turgid sand storm of sound, or delicately trickle like the calm waters of the Niger River, while the singers gave cries, choruses and celebratory chants. By the time the 75 minute set was over, and Keita encored with a spacious reading of “Folon,” the audience was both worn out from the constant dancing to the music, and yet exhilarated from the positive force exerted by the Malian master. A night to remember!