Toumani Diabate & Arnaldo Antunes, Egdard Scandurra - A Curva Da Cintura (2012)

Following a show-stopping collaboration at the 2010 edition of the Brazilian festival Back2Black, Toumani Diabat+ª invited Brazilian songwriter, poet and artist Arnaldo Antunes and guitar hero Edgard Scandurra to Mali to record with him. The resulting album A Curva Da Cintura is now presented on London-based Brazilian imprint Mais Um Discos. Arnaldo and Edgard arrived in Mali in April 2011 with a collection of songs they had written together. With Malian musicians they combined rock 'n' roll, African roots and blues to create an uplifting Afro-Brazilian fusion that celebrates the spirit of collaboration and connects Mali and Brazil in a way that blurs geographical and musical boundaries. As one of the most influential African musicians of the 21st century, Toumani Diabat+ª needs no introduction. The 71st generation of his family to play the kora, he has released over 10 solo and collaborative albums, winning the "Best Traditional World Music Album" at the Grammys in 2010 and 2011. Arnaldo Antunes is a legendary Paulistina (native of S+£o Paulo) who rose to fame in the early '80s as the driving force behind Titas, one of Brazil's most influential and popular rock groups of the '80s. Since leaving them, Arnaldo continues as a successful solo artist, internationally-respected poet and serial collaborator working across music, literature, dance and audio-visual media. Edgard Scandurra is a Paulistina guitarist, composer and singer who was a founding member of Ira!, one of the most important contemporary Brazilian rock groups. Listed as one of the "100 Greatest Brazilian Artists" by Brazilian Rolling Stone, like Arnaldo, he's a regular collaborator with the new generation of Brazilian musicians. Toumani's sublime kora playing is the perfect contrast to Arnaldo's somber almost mechanical voice and adds a poignancy to ballads such as "Grao De Chaos," "Psiu" and Toumani's composition "Kaira." With Toumani leading the ballads, his son Sidiki features on the album's more lively numbers. His rapid kora-playing intertwines with Edgard's guitar to propel both the title track and "Cara" forward, while the opening track sees him modulating his kora with wah-wah, proving he has the pioneering spirit of his father. Also featured is Afro-Cubism band member Fode Lassana Diabat+ª on balafon and Zoumana Tereta, who adds his guttural soku fiddle-playing and vocals to show that there's as much reason to believe the blues came from the Niger Delta as Mississippi. Housed in a deluxe 6-panel digipack.