Consumer Guide Album

Jali Musa Jawara: Soubindoor [Mango, 1989]
Mandinka folk music reconceived by Mory Kante's multi-instrumentalist brother, whose emotional tenor soars over interwoven balafon (a big, deeply resonant xylophone) and kora (an intricately harplike guitar), with his guitar talking underneath and harmonies from women surnamed Diabate and Keita adding commentary and color. In Guinea, it's reconceived Mandinka folk music; in the U.S. it's world beat as world music, exotically pleasurable education for the ears. B+