“The Hendrix of the Sahara” – ALL MUSIC GUIDE
“Vieux Farka Toure’s group is the best fucking rock band in the world” – DON WAS (Producer: Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan)
“Mali has a new guitar God, and his name is Vieux Farka Touré ” – FADER
Vieux Farka Touré (pronounced Vyuh Farka Tawray) was born in Niafunké, Mali in 1981. He is the son of legendary Malian guitar player Ali Farka Touré, who died in 2006. Ali Farka Touré came from a historical tribe of soldiers, and defied his parents in becoming a musician. When Vieux was in his teens, he declared that he also wanted to be a musician. His father disapproved due to the pressures he had experienced as a musician. Rather, he wanted Vieux to become a soldier. But with help from family friend the kora maestro Toumani Diabaté, Vieux eventually convinced his father to give him his blessing to become a musician shortly before Ali passed.
Vieux has three studio albums and one live release to date. On his first self-titled release, Vieux pays homage to his father and follows Ali’s musical tradition, giving new versions of the West African music that is echoed in the American blues. The album features Toumani Diabaté, as well as his late father.
On his second record, Fondo (2009), Vieux branched out and presented his own sound: while remaining true to the roots of his father’s music he uses elements of rock, Latin music, and other African influences. The album received a great deal of critical acclaim from across the globe, and Vieux was clearly moving out of his father’s shadow. In June 2010 Vieux released his live album with tracks recorded in Australia, with the track “Walaidu” featuring Jeff Lang.
In 2011 Vieux released his 3rd studio album, The Secret, so named because the listener will hear the secret of the blues with a blend of generations from father to son. It was produced by guitarist Eric Krasno (of the Soulive trio) and features South African-born vocalist Dave Matthews, Derek Trucks on electric slide guitar and jazz guitarist John Scofield. The title track is the last collaboration between Vieux and his late father.
“Vieux Farka Touré has really found his place with the legacy of his father as a dynamic
figure in contemporary African music.”
**** EVENING STANDARD
“Vieux is on fire, consolidating his African blues roots and linking the cultural bridge to American blues …”
MIDDLE BOOP MAG
In April 2012, Vieux released The Tel Aviv Session, a collaborative project with Israeli superstar Idan Raichel dubbed ‘The Touré -Raichel Collective’ that has been hailed by fans and critics alike as a masterpiece and one of the best collaborative albums in the history of international music, drawing comparisons to Ali Farka Touré and Ry Cooder’s legendary Talking Timbuktu album.
With each new project, Vieux expands his horizons, embraces new challenges and further entrenches his reputation as one of the world’s most talented and innovative musicians.
AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES
Sat 9th & Sun 10th March WOMADelaide, Adelaide www.womadelaide.com.au
Mon 11th March The Corner Hotel, Melbourne www.cornerhotel.com
Tues 12th March The Basement, Sydney www.thebasement.com.au
http://www.vieuxfarkatoure.com