Review: Recapturing the Banjo – From Mali to Mississippi at The Sage Gateshead

Apr 30 2008 by Martin Ellis, The Journal

THE Recapturing the Banjo CD and subsequent tour were instigated by renowned acoustic bluesman Otis Taylor to celebrate the banjo’s African heritage.

To develop the project, Otis gathered together highly respected roots musicians Alvin Young Blood Hart, Corey Harris, Don Vapple, Guy Davis, Bassekou Kouyate with Cassie Taylor on bass for a short tour of the UK.

The evening started with Bassekou Koyate alone on stage playing a ngoni, a small, seven-stringed traditional African instrument.

For me, his sound has resonances of fellow Malian Ali Farka Toure – mesmerising!

As the performance progressed, the rest of the band arrived on stage.

We were transported from Africa via the West Indies, with Palm Wine/Calypso, on to the States and New Orleans Mardi Gras.

Four-string, five-string and six-string banjos were played, drawing on a range of roots styles – claw-hammer, Louisiana, folk-country and other world rhythms.

As one might have expected with the collection of musicians involved, roots acoustic blues took centre place with great use of harmonica and guitars.

The gig was played over two sets.

Some people I spoke to thought it would have worked better as one long set, but I preferred the twin-set approach.

However, everyone in the sold out Hall Two will agree that the night was tremendous.