Search - Sidi Toure :: Koima

Thrill Jockey is proud to present, Koima the second full-length album by Malian songwriter and guitarist Sidi Toure. The winner of two Malian national awards for best singer, Sidi was leader of The Songhai Stars, and is a nationally renowned figure in his home country. In 2011, Sidi released Sahel Folk, his debut album for Thrill Jockey, and toured North America for the first time. This tour took him to prestigious venues and festivals, including New York's Lincoln Center, Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music, and the Chicago World Music Festival. Koima is the natural progression from Sahel Folk, as Sidi has moved from an album of duets, recorded all in one take in his sisters home, to a quintet recorded in a studio. With Koima, the intent was to record a different side of Songhai music from the style captured on Sahel Folk. Thanks to the simplicity and the sobriety of Sahel Folk, listeners heard the Songhai music in its purer form, its sparse soul exposed to everyone. On Koïma the music is represented in a much richer and luxuriant way. We move from the intimacy of a quiet meeting between friends to the celebration of an evening of dance. On Koima, Sidi is able to more fully realize his vision for his music.