Another Night on Earth
So I went to Knysna, to return to the scene of the crime, and to record a short little Bach album. And what happened was I ended up recording the sequel to One Night on Earth by mistake, as well.
We did the Bach one morning and compositions by Ballake Sissoko, Amadou Bansang, Jobarteh, Sidiki Diabate, Sekou Batourou Kouyate and, of course, Toumani Diabate, on the second morning.
What we have for you now, Howard Butcher and I, are two albums of nine tracks each. The kora ones, which I will release first, are largely taken from the duo kora repertoire. Two koras condensed onto one guitar, using all the tricks I’ve learned playing Toumani’s solo works over the years.
I think you’re going to like it. It’s different, and it’s not. It’s perhaps a little more explosive, a little more dynamic and multi layered, and the composition selection is more diverse. And no guitarists this time! Just five of the greatest kora players of all time and their incredible compositions.
We’re still in the design phase for the cover. But by the end of the week I will be sharing the full album with those of you who supported the Patreon Campaign. If you don’t know about this yet and would like to get on board too please have a look here.
Otherwise some wonderful concerts have passed in the last few months, not least of all the incredible inspiring collaboration with John Williams and Tunde Jegede as well as a guitar orchestra performance of Miniyamba in Denmark and The Kronos Quartet premier of Miniyamba for String Quartet in Turkey.
Next up is Rocking the Daisies in Western Cape, before I head to Sweden for Uppsala International Guitar Festival alongside some incredible musicians, not least of all Pat Metheny (wahooo!). Then to Denmark for The Aarhus Guitar Festival (Ballake Sissoko will be there!) and Aalborg for a solo show and then to Budapest for WOMEX.
But I can’t wait for you to hear the records.
So back to work. Speak soon
Love,
Derek
P.S. I have 20 copies of One Night on earth on vinyl if you want one they are ZAR350 plus postage and you can email to order. Within South Africa only. Otherwise you can order internationally here.