Malian guitarist and singer Vieux Farka Touré will perform at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley in Seattle on Sept. 15 and 16, 2026, as part of a tour tied to his album Les Racines. Marshall Henry will play bass, Ousmane Dagno will perform on ngoni and guitar, and Adama Kone will handle drums and percussion. Both concerts start at 7:30 p.m., with doors at 6 p.m. KEXP supports the shows.
World Circuit released Les Racines on June 10, 2022. The record, Touré’s sixth solo album and his first for the label, focuses on the Songhai musical traditions of northern Mali that helped define the desert blues associated with his late father, Ali Farka Touré. Its title translates as “the roots.”
The album’s original songs address heritage, peace, and social issues in Mali. “In Mali many people are illiterate, and music is the main way of transmitting information and knowledge,” Vieux explains. “My father fought for peace, and as artists we have an obligation to educate about the problems facing our country and to rally people and shepherd them towards reason.”
“Returning to the roots of this music is a new departure for me, and I’ve never spent so long or worked so hard on an album,” Vieux adds. “I knew it had to be deep and durable and powerful, and so I took a lot of time to reflect on how to do it and put it together.”
Touré recorded the 10-track album at his home studio in Bamako after years of work with several styles and international collaborations. His previous projects include work with Dave Matthews, jazz guitarist John Scofield and singer-songwriter Julia Easterlin, as well as two albums with Israeli musician Idan Raichel under the Touré-Raichel Collective.
However, Les Racines places greater emphasis on traditional West African forms. Touré spent two years on the record and used the period when COVID-19 restrictions halted tours to complete it. He has said the project reflects his desire to reconnect with Malian history.
Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley
2033 6th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121
(headline image: Vieux Farka Toure -photo by Kiss-Diouara)
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central