Music of the Month For a contribution of 20.00 a month (33.00 outside of the US), I'll be sending you a recording from somewhere interesting, each and every month. You will receive a CD in the mail, and regular monthly subcribers will also get a bonus CD now and then. Check out other ways to donate at The Rent Party.

Our Music of the Month selection for June 2021
Boubacar "Badian" Diabaté
Mande Guitar

"This recording of Boubacar Badian Diabate blows my mind. He's doing things I've never heard anyone do before." - Bill Frisell

I am very pleased to present an artist you have likely never heard before, part of a new series of recordings of great African guitarists, and the initial release by a new record label formed by veteran guitarist, journalist and co-founder of Afropop Worldwide, Banning Eyre.

Mande Guitar: African Guitar Series, Volume 1 is an intimate acoustic recording session by a phenomenal Mande guitarist. Born and raised in Bamako, Mali, in a family of djeli (griot) musicians, Badian is well known at home as a master of his art and a highly innovative improviser, yet he is considered an unsung hero of Malian guitar outside the Mande world. This new recording provides an opportunity to hear one of these great maestros outside of his usual milieu, Mali’s noisy and vibrant wedding parties. The album showcases Badian in purely acoustic, instrumental mode, playing stunning instrumental renditions of some of the great tunes of the Mande repertoire.

Just give the excerpts below a listen and I am sure you will find yourself agreeing with Mr Frisell.

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Buy the CD for a 21.00 donation (includes US post)

Buy the CD for a 33.00 donation (outside US)

Listen to some short excerpts from the album

"L'amour"

"Bayani"

"Sankonke"

"Kedo"

You can also buy previous Music of the Month titles in our shop
(and save a little on postage for more than one CD).

Sign up for Music of the Month with a 20.00 monthly donation (includes postage in US):

Sign up for Music of the Month with a 30.00 monthly donation (includes postage worldwide):

Buy the CD for a 21.00 donation (includes US post)

Buy the CD for a 30.00 donation (outside US includes post)