"A vital mix of the Mississippi Delta and Mali, a cultural exchange of
haunting beauty and mystery."
---BLUES REVUE MAGAZINE

For many years, Markus James has been travelling in Mali and recording unique, Blues-influenced music with traditional Wassoulou and Sonrai musicians. This has led to excellent critical acclaim for the recordings, film , and live performances which have evolved from these true cross-cultural collaborations. In the US, Markus performs with Malian artists playing Kameme n'goni, the 8-stringed hunter's harp of the Wassoulou people, kurubu and njarka violin of the Sonrai people, as well as calabash and Bolon, the 3-stringed gourd bass. The music features vocals which alternate between Bambara, Sonrai, and English.
His collaborations in Timbuktu with Hamma Sankare (Calabash player on Ali Farka Toure's tours and albums), Hassi Sare (master of the one-stringed Njarka violin), and Solo Sidibe (who plays the Kamele N'Goni, the hunter's harp of the Wassoulou people) are the subject of the documentary film and upcoming CD / DVD release "Timbuktoubab". This group has performed at the Festival In The Desert in 2003 and 2004, as well as in Timbuktu and other towns and villages in Northern Mali.
In the US, Markus tours with The Wassonrai, featuring Wassoulou musician Mamadou Sidibe, and Amadou Camara. They have performed on numerous radio shows, including PRI / BBC's "The World", at festivals, and in clubs, and have an album due in early 2005.

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