Kaira Ben

Singa

Singa is a fairly short but reasonably sweet debut disc by the group Kaira Ben, formed in Europe by a mix of Senegalese and Malian musicians. The latter element dominates -- lead singer Idrissa Magassa hails from Senegal but he played with Zani Diabate's much-missed Super Djata Band alongside Zoumana Diarra, scion of a Malian griot family, who co-wrote all the material with the third core member, percussionist/producer Abdramane Fall. "Bamba" opens close to traditional with bubbling balafon and acoustic guitar flavored with prominent sax from Tidiane Kone. Magassa has an appealing voice (even traces of Richie Havens' huskiness at times).

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