Gongoma Times

by John Storm Roberts, Original Music

This is a reissue of a 1988 Womad recording of this neo-traditional ensemble that included balafon but laid particular emphasis on percussion. The performance is admirable, the singing slightly under-recorded. A splendid plus is leader

Yacouba Camara

's harmonica. It's a rarely recorded instrument in African rural music, and

Camara

's playing makes that a major mystery.