Collaborations between American and West African, specifically Malian, musicians are nothing new (see below). But, Adam Klein, a successful American folk musician from Georgia who has a long association with Mali (the locals call him by the name Lassine Kouyate) plans that and more: Klein is working on an album with Malian musicians that will do three things that together will present a new departure in these kinds of collaborations: that is blend “… rustic acoustic Mande music with American roots music,” records the music in Mali and plans to perform an entire record of original songs “in Bambara with traditional instrumentation.” He is also making a documentary film.  I sent Klein some questions about the project.

Can you tell us more about the project?

I travelled to Mali in early 2010 to record an album of original songs in the Mande style, sung in Bambara, accompanied by traditional Malian and West African instrumentation such as kora, ngoni, calabash, tama (talking drum), djembe, and more. I also brought filmmaker Jason Miller of Eikon Productions (LA via Georgia). Jason shot a making-of-the-record documentary film which includes footage of the recording sessions, footage from the village in which I served with Peace Corps [years before], glimpses into the lives of some of my close Malian friends, shots from the Festival sur le Niger in Segou, as well as interviews with various folks about Malian life, culture, and development. The main three narrative strands of the as-yet-unfinished and unnamed film include the making of the album, learning about the lives of Malians through my friends’ stories, and my personal struggle to remain connected with and supporting my Malian friends and community from afar. The album has not yet been released as I’ve intended to put it out packaged together with the film. It remains to be seen whether the film will be a 25-35 minute short or a tv-hour length piece.

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