Vieux Farka Toure

Toure’s latest album ‘Mon Pays’ is a true work of genius and the chance to see him again at Queen Elizabeth Hall (scene of his triumphant performance last year) was one not to be missed.
A capacity crowd was treated to a display of brilliant playing and real humour from Toure and his supporting musicians and by the end the entire place was on its feet dancing with joy.

One of the man’s great strengths is his ability to move off script and play what he feels his audience wants and on the night he did indeed switch numbers out and there were a few puzzled glances from his bassist but the crowd didn’t mind, they were on the right side of a brilliant set.

Toure does things with his guitar that very few others around today would even think of. He doesn’t play Blues or in a ‘rock’ style but he has rightly been compared to Hendrix because he makes music with his guitar that leaves other fine guitarists with their jaws hanging loose but all without histrionics or ‘guitar-hero’ poses. He danced here and did so with a huge smile on his face but his hands seemed to be independent of each other but producing emotive and rhythmic sounds that gelled perfectly.

He is a musician that anyone who claims to be into music should sell their grandparents to see – he really is that good.

Support act Diabel Cissokho – the renowned Kora player – also had the crowd on their feet with a set full of delights and rhythms and he gelled brilliantly with Toure on the number ‘Future’ from ‘Mon Pays’.

A magical night.