In 2003, the western audience discovers, amazed, an extraterrestrial record that will reach directly the best seller positions in American charts for world music. What must be said is that "FESTIVAL AU DESERT 2003" compounded all the greatest and famous names of Malian Music, showed in all its diversity (Ali Farka Touré, Tinariwen, Oumou Sangare, Tartit, Afel Bocoum?), with some additional notorious guests as Robert Plant (the Led Zeppelin mythical singer).

In the middle of this album, a young artist imposes himself thanks to his voice and his hallucinating string play. Adama Yalomba placed then its first paving stone on the way that will drive him to international recognition.

Afro pop

His brand new album, the first one distributed outside Africa, has been recorded in Bogolan Studio in Bamako in 2007 (the most famous studio in western Africa where the missed Ali Farka Touré, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Björk as well as for instance Tinariwen have chosen for their latest album). People familiar with African music industry know how difficult it is for native artists to get European or American sound production quality standards. Hence, "KASSA" is the album that finally does justice to Adama Yalomba talent.

Yet, the man did not wait for this album to attract the masses all over in the world. Actually, it has been for years now that he performs in all the main world music events (WOMEX, Sfinks, Les Escales ?), marking audience mind thanks to his virtuosity, his energy and his smile.

All his travels around the world have opened his ears and his mind as one can notice along the 15 album titles. From indisputable hits ("Bara", "Kassa", "Djalamale"?) to more introspective singles (the wonderful "Kadidja", "Nougoudjougou", "Odel"?), Adama plays with languages (Bambara, Boso, Linguala, French) and with instruments to give birth to deep, intimate and strong songs which stick to your sole and soul.

There was afro beat, afro jazz, Adama Yalomba invents now groovy afro pop, halfway to his millenary roots and his elsewhere' desires.

Act together!

Act together seems to be Adama' slogan, always seeking for any encounter that could enrich his art. So, it is possible to listen to his strings (vocal, dan, n'goni, guitar) with his fellow citizens (Salif Keita, Ali Farka Touré, Habib Koïté, Oumou Sangaré, Guerebou Kounkan ?) as well as on Mali lovers' artists (hip hop globetrotter Kwal, the fiddled pop of Toma Sidibé, the deep dub of Manjul ?)
Then, it was obvious to find a bunch of guests on his brand new album. Malian top brass of course said yes to Adama' invitation: Toumani Diabaté, kora master working with Björk or Damon Albarn (Blur, Gorillaz), Cheikh Tidiane Seck (playing also with the jazzman Archie Shepp or rapper Rockin' Squat of Assassin), the Diva Rokia Traoré (who plays with the New Yorker quartet Kronos) and the n'goni virtuoso Bassekou Kouyaté (who played with U2, Carlos Santana, ?) are all part of this international casting.

France is wonderfully represented as well: in addition to the old pal Kwal and Manjul, one can hear Nicolas Repac, Arthur H guitarist whose passion for Africa is well known thanks to his work with Mamani Keita.

More astonishing maybe, the dazzling Keiziah Jones, in passing by Bamako as Adama was recording, insisted to put some of his slender guitar notes after he had listened first album draft.

Although those talented guests bring their touch, Adama Yalomba is still the real boss of this album thanks to his charisma and an open-mindedness that drive a consistent equilibrium between traditional music and undisputable modernity.

Adama Yalomba demonstrates in the most beautiful way with his creation that "the African man" has well and truly entered the History?