Corey Harris has become known as a blues singer and guitarist. Yet the blues is only a small part of his music world. Harris is interested in all African American music from blues, gospel and jazz to funk, reggae and R&B. Moreover, he likes to immerse himself in the African roots of this music. Harris first came to Africa while studying anthropology. In Cameroon he studied African linguistics
… and became fascinated by the complex polyrhythms of African music. Later, the Martin Scorsese documentary The Blues (which he collaborated on) led him again to Africa, this time to Mali. The journey resulted in the captivating album Mississippi To Mali, on which Harris wanted to show the similarities between African music and blues. Some recordings were made in Mali, the other in Mississippi. In Mali, Harris mainly worked with Ali Farka Toure, who chose African songs and played the njaga, a one-string violin, among other things. In Mississippi he played with the Rising Star Fife And Drum Band, led by 12-year-old Shardé Thomas, granddaughter of blues veteran Otha Turner, who sadly passed away a week before the recording. The album is dedicated to him. (CP)more