A Train and Six Degrees artist Vieux Farka Toure’s The Secret is number 1 on the World Music charts Europe. Including appearances by Dave Matthews, John Scofield, Derek Trucks and Ali Farka Toure, The Secret is a masterpiece.
Traveling down Linden Blvd towards JFK Airport, Vieux Farka Touré had a realization. Having just left The Bunker recording studio in Brooklyn, he was discussing the sessions with his manager, Eric Herman. A newly constructed song, played in part by his father-the great Malian guitarist Ali Farka Touré-came on over the car stereo, and Vieux said, “This is what we call ‘the secret of the blues.” The two friends laughed, though it quickly dawned on him that his off-the-cuff remark was a perfect summation of his third album. The Secret (Six Degrees Records) was born.
“To make this album I had to dig deep into the secrets of my own history and my country’s culture in order to move the music forward,” Vieux said, back in his native Mali. Indeed the song, which is pulled from the last session Ali cut before heading to a French hospital (he would die of bone cancer shortly thereafter), will be instantly recognizable to fans of the elder’s classic albums, such as Niafunke and Talking Timbuktu. The Secret is the young Farka Touré’s attempt at blending generations, making it difficult to surmise where Vieux begins and Ali ends. Including a beautiful flute section by Cheick Diallo, Ganda Tounkara on n’goni and Vieux on guitar, there is no doubt that he succeeded.
We also are pleased that A Train publishing partners Asphalt Tango continue their winning ways with Balkan Brass Battle (this month # 4).
