POP MUSIC REVIEWS : Keita: A Meditative African Alternative

Salif Keita’s impressive local debut before a capacity audience at the Music Machine on Thursday struck another blow against the notion that all African music sounds alike.

But the Paris-based singer, an albino descendant of the 13th-Century warrior king who founded the West African nation of Mali, did more than just add a new regional twist. The devilishly intricate arrangements and cross-melodies delivered by Keita and his superb 10-piece backing band in two one-hour sets ran counter to the buoyant groove aesthetic characteristic of much African music.

A devotional, meditative flavor pervaded the performance, one reinforced by Keita’s habit of starting most of the songs with his hands clasped in front of him as if praying. His astonishing voice didn’t lessen the effect--Keita frequently started his vocal phrases with a pure, piercing high note before spiraling down with Islamic-influenced melodies.

Keita’s hybrid blending African roots with sophisticated European pop enabled the balafon (an African marimba) to co-exist harmoniously with electric keyboards. It was demanding but rewarding music--no surprise that Miles Davis and Carlos Santana are reputedly big fans--and Keita’s performance demonstrated he’s clearly opening up new dimensions to African music.