Sangaré, Oumou
Nonesuch, 2022, CD
Instrument: Female Vocals
Issue: 28.2
Jazz Ruler Type: Pop+Jazz
Performance: 4
Sound: 3
Score: 74
O’s Notes: Oumou Sangare is not a household name but she is certainly worth a listen! The Grammy Award-winning Malian Wassoulou singer, activist has a mellow tone backed by warm and peaceful instrumentation. The eleven selections of Timbuktu were composed in Baltimore where Sangare was isolated during the pandemic. The lyrics are beautifully melodic but will be invisible to those who don’t understand Malian French, perhaps a buffer for a potent message that some say is already too tempered. It is nonetheless satisfying, bluesy, world jazz endeavor.
Publicist: Sacks & Co
