A NEW OUD MASTERPIECE

This month's Transglobal World Music Chart has plenty of interesting new albums, with many released to coincide with the summer festival season in Europe and North America.

- JOHN CLEWLEY

Riding high in the top spot is a fascinating new album from oud master Mustafa Said’s Asil Ensemble, Maqam Pilgrims, released as part of the Aga Khan Music Program. Said’s oud playing and singing lead the ensemble in their reinterpretation of the Arabic maqam tradition, with original lyrics about the human spirit, migration and hardship.

The ensemble’s sound is rich and evocative. Look out for the track I Ran With The Lovers.

West Africa also features strongly in the chart, led by Hawa and Kassé Mady Diabaté’s Toumaro in the number two spot. This is a delightful tribute to the late great Kassy Mady by his daughter Hawa, who took his final unfinished work and added her heartfelt vocals. Mady, as readers may remember, was regarded as one of Mali’s greatest Manding singers. This album perfectly blends traditional Malian music with contemporary elements.