The Tel Aviv Session Cumbancha****

A purely chance airport encounter led to this rich musical collaboration between Malian guitarist Vieux Farka Touré and Israeli bandleader and pianist Idan Raichel. The latter, a prominent figure at home, has championed musical multiculturalism there and was a fan of Vieux’s famous father Ali. Just three hours of studio time resulted in a series of improvisations that have a warm, relaxed, often meditative, quality.

The gently rolling Malian grooves are uppermost in the mix, with fine piano embellishment (both keysand strings), and sensitive support from Yossi Fine on bass and Souleymane Kane on calabash. Some excellent guest contributions (vocals, harmonica, tar, kamanche) were later added without disturbing the mood. Probably just a side project for both artists, but a special and inspired one. toureraichel.com

Download tracks:Kfar, Alem, Hawa