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Khaira Arby

Khaira Arby Radio

NEWS

* enfin un concert de Khaira Arby en France!!! Rdv à Marseilles le 31 MARS pour BABEL MED
annulé en raison des evenemnt au Nord Mali...
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* La fondation Orange sélectionne 5 chanteuses pour le prix de la plus belle oie 2012, VOTEZ pour Khaira ici avant le 31 mars!
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* Khaira Arby nominated in the World Traditional Album Category for Timbuktu Tarab in The 11th Independent Music Awards. (Keith Richards, Tori Amos, Mc Coy Tiner, Ozzy Osburne, Tom Waits and others join IMA Judging Panel)
NOW WE NEED VOTES!
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* NEW 2012 USA SPRING TOUR: check dates on shows module.

* “The General Directors of the TAMANI D'OR have the real pleasure to announce that Khaira Arby is distinguished as the best Malian musical artist of the past 50 years.”
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Stream

  1. Khaira Arby

    New Gig announced in Chicago, IL at Old Town School of Folk Music on 9/15/2013 http://lnk.ms/dwp01

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PRESS & REVIEWS


* rfi: " Khaira Arby’s unusual voice carries with it all of Timbuktu’s cultural richness, its inescapable mystery and entire history"
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* womad uk: One of the highlights of 2011 was seeing Khaira Arby's amazing band. We saw them in the Taste the World tent, and they were so good we changed our previous plans to watch them on the main stage.
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* New York Times: " Her 2010 album "Timbuktu Tarab" (Clermont Music) was one of the decade's best albums, and on stage her music was even more electrifying"
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* Whashington post : " her music's infectious joy "
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* Chicago reader: " Timbuktu Tarab is one of the best records from Africa i've heard in years"
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* Afropop: " I can’t say I have seen a more exciting performance all year. "
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* Afropop Worlwide Win Free Stuff: " Khaira Arby, the Nightingale of the North, has just released a fantastic album, TIMBUKTU TARAB. Relatively unknown outside of her native Mali, Khaira is a magical vocalist able to captivate her audience with song, backed by her fantastically rockin' band"
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* Afropop exclusive Khaira's ITW
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* LucidCulture.wordpress.com : " It’s hard to imagine a more original album in any style of music released this year. "
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* The Star : "Arby has taken a star turn"
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* Express Milwaukee: " Her voice is a powerful emotional surge rising from the cresting waves of her hypnotic backing musicians and chorus. "
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* First World Music: " Formidable. highly recommended "
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* World Music central: " Arby definitely comes off as a spiritual-musical warrior. "
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* NewYork Timeout: " Khaira Arby plays colorful, rootsy music with modern flourishes on her new record, Timbuktu Tarab "
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* National Geographic: " magnificent results. Her voice is a force of nature - as big and clear as the desert sky itself "
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* The Boston Globe: " The wonder of Mali is that it still leaves plenty to discover. That’s where Khaira Arby comes in (...) Club dates in Harlem and Brooklyn have turned into ecstatic dance parties "
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* FlyGlobalMusic: " the music is subtle and understated, and Khaira's voice tops it all with incredible range and pitch... magic "
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* AllAboutJazz: " For women, singing can be the road to personal power. When their voice is as strong as Malian vocalist Khaira Arby's, that power can move mountains, change minds, and win battles. "
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* Spinner.com : " 'Timbuktu Tarab is wake-up music. Make that WAKE-UP music! "
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* AfrobeatRadio : " Her voice is a powerful, crystalline, soprano instrument that pierced the balmy New York night sky and levitated the spirit to the dance floor. "
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* NPR Music: " Arby's debut international CD release (Timbuktu Tarab) and her first U.S. tour are giving Americans their first glimpses of a desert rose. But, as they'll discover, that rose has both a beautiful crimson flower and razor-sharp thorns. "
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* groovalizacion : ALBUM DU MOIS: Khaira Arby "Timbuktu tarab"
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* virginian pilot : " Timbuktu tarab » is a magical , emotional album full of viscéral African rhythms shot through with spiritual power"


* August 31 , 2010, Khaira Arby SONG OF THE DAY on NPR station: "Mali's Reigning Queen of Song"

* free on iTunes : Public Radio International's The World: Global Hit

NEXT & PREVIOUS SHOWS

MAI 2012:
01/05 Nc local 506, Durham
02/05 Dc9, Washington
03/05 poisson rouge, New York
04/05 Ma johny, Boston
05/05 Abilene, Rochester
07/05 sala rosa, Montreal
09/05 Pyramid scheme, Grand Rapids
10/05 Old Town, Chicago
11/05 Englert Theatre, Iowa City
12/05 Bourbon Theatre, Lincoln
14/05 Urban Lounge, Salt Lake City
19/05 Joshua tree music Festival, Joshua Tree
28/05 Lula lounge, Toronto

AVRIL 2012:
26/04 Kessler Theatre, Dallas
27/04 Festival de Louisianne, Lafayette
28/04 Festival de Louisianne, Lafayette
30/04 The Earl, Atlanta

JANVIER 2012:
05/01 Festival Ali Farka Toure, Niafunké, Mali
06/01 Festival Ali Farka Toure, Niafunké, Mali
07/01 Festival Ali Farka Toure, Niafunké, Mali
08/01 Festival Ali Farka Toure, Niafunké, Mali
12/01 Festival au désert, Tombouctou, Mali
13/01 Festival au désert, Tombouctou, Mali
14/01 Festival au désert, Tombouctou, Mali

NOVEMBER 2011:
05/11 Gao, Mali
12/11 Tombouctou;, Mali

OCTOBER 2011:
29/10 Palais de la culture, Bamako, Mali

AUGUST 2011:
07/08 Africa Museum, Nijmegen, NL
10/08 Oya Festivalen, Oslo, NORWAY


JULY 2011
02/07 Africa Festival, Hertme, NL
04/07 Jazz fest, Mpntreal, CANADA
05/07 Oberon, Cambridge,MA, USA
06/07 Brooklyn Bowl, Brooklyn, NY, USA
07/07 Le poisson rouge, New York, NY, USA
08/07 Johny Brenda's , Philadelphia, PA, USA
09/07 Red Palace, Washington DC, USA
10/07 Thnderbird cafe, Pittsburg PA, USA
12/07 The Empty Bottle, Chicago IL, USA
13/07 Cedar Cultural Center, Mineapolis MN, USA
15/07 California World Festival, Grass Valey CA, USA
16/07 Grand Ballroom at Regency Center, San Francisco, USA
17/07 Levitt Pavillon, Pasadena CA, USA
19/07 Casbah, San Diego, CA, USA
20/07 The Echo, Los Angeles CA, USA
21/07 Saint Rocke,Hermosa BeachN, CA, USA
22/07 Club Congress, Tucson AZ, USA
23/07 The due return at cca, Santa fe, NM,USA
24/07 Underground music showcase, Denver CO, USA
27/07 Armstrong Quad, Colorado Springs CO, USA
29/07 WOMAD Festival, Charlton Park, UK
30/07 WOMAD Festival, Charlton Park, UK
31/07 SFINKS Festival, Boeschutt, BE

JUNE 2011:
10/06 Club Golbal, Copenhagen, DENMARK
11/06 Clandestino festival, Gotenborg, SWEDEN
13/06 Global Festival, Amersfoort, NL
18/06 Bimhuis Jazz&world club, Amsterdam, NL
19/06 Africa Oye Festival, Liverpool, UK
25/06 DJS, Dordrecht, NL
26/06 Nyama Festival, Delf, NL
29/06 Jewish Festival, with Sway Machinery, Krakow, POLAND

MAI 2011:
13/05 ATP Festival, Bulins ,Minehead, UK
15/05 ATP Fesival, Butlins, Minehead, UK
17/05 Stereo, glasgow, UK
19/05 Cafe Oto, London, UK
21/05 WoodFestival, Oxfordshire, UK
23/05 Festival 3 culturas, Murciaa, SP

MARS 2011:
05/03 The Bell House, New York
08/03 El Rey Theatre, Los Angeles
09/03 Great American Music Hall, San Francisco
12/03 Aladdin Theater, Portland
13/03 The Crocodile, Seattle
15/03 Hi Dive, Denver
17/03 SXSW Festival, All Music is World Music, Austin
17/03 SXSW Festival, NPR Party, The Parish, Austin
18/03 SXSW Festival, Pop Monteal Fest. Spill, Austin
19/03 SXSW Festival, Habana Bar, Austin
20/03 Mountain Stage, Charleston
21/03 DC9, Washington
22/03 Thunderbird, Pittburg, PA

USA TOUR 2010:
06/10 Johny D's ,Massachusetts , Somerville
03/10 Malian Community Alhassane Camara Sun, New York
02/10 Afropop Anniversary Party Sat, New York
01/10 Sanctuary for Independent Media , Troy, NY
30/09 Balattou Thu, Montreal
29/09 Joe's Pub Wed, New York
27/09 Logan Square Auditorium Mon, Chicago, Illinois
27/09 WNUR Radio broadcast Brian Keigher, Chicago, Illinois
26/09 World Music Festival of Chicago Sun, September 26, Chicago, Illinois
25/09 Union Theater Esty Dinur Sat, Madison, WI
24/09 Globalquerque Neal Copperman , Albuquerque, New Mexico
23/09 Global Roots Festival Thu, Minneapolis, Minnesota
22/09 Global Roots Festival , Minneapolis, Minnesota
18/09 Lotus Festival Sat, Bloomington, Indiana
17/09 Lotus Festival Fri, Bloomington, Indiana
08/09 City Winery Wed, New York
05/09 Ashkenaz Festival Jeremiah Lockwood ,Toronto, Ontario, C 1
03/09 Cozmic Pizza Eugene ( acoustic set ) , Oregon, Oregon
02/09 The Triple Door , Seattle, Washington 1
31/08 Berbati's Tue, Portland, Oregon 1
26/08 Triple Door Thu, Seattle, Washington
24/08 The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts , Washington, DC
21/08 St Nick's pub Harlem, New York
20/08 zebulon, Brooklyn, New York
16/08 Jeremiah Lockwood radio Broadcast Mon, New York
14/08 Zebulon Café Sat, New York
13/08 Harlem Fri, New York
12/08 Bard Music Festival Thu, New York
11/08 WIKZE , New York

VIDEO

.. Intimate interview and performance: Afropop.org
Live at UN General Assembly in New York- Mars 30, 2011
Live at the Sanctuary for Independent Media oct1,2010 SXSW 2011 Minute From NPR Music:
Khaira Arby: Dja Cheickna live on KEXP radio:
The guardian : desert session
Khaira and her amazing guitar player
The Sway Machinery feat Khaira: Gawad Teriamou
Directed by Tatiana McCabe. Live at "Festival au desert " , Essakane 2010, by Chris Nolan:

Clip AIGNA , direction & editing Boris Persikoff:
CLIP AMANDIATH , direction Ouattana Kouakou:


Khaira Arby & Leou Thierera - Katra Baby
Clip TOMBOUCTOU, direction Ouattana Kouakou:


ALI FARKA TOURE & KHAIRA ARBY 1995:

General Info

  • Genre: Afro-beat / Blues / Rock

    Location Timbuktu, Un

    Profile Views: 154366

    Last Login: 9/25/2012

    Member Since 10/14/2008

    Website facebook.com/KhairaArby

    Type of Label Indie

  • Bio

    Desert Defiance and Womanly Power: Malian Diva Khaira Arby Invokes the Mystery, History, and Heart of Timbuktu For women, singing can be the road to personal power. When their voice is as strong as Malian vocalist Khaira Arby's, that power can move mountains, change minds, and win battles.

Arby's rich, potent sound aims to do just that on Timbuktu Tarab shifting seamlessly between the edgy and progressive and the traditional and deeply rooted. Inspired by her cousin Ali Farka Toure, Arby turns to her mixed Berber and Sonrhai roots and draws on a sweet mixture of desert blues and recording sophistication, blending ripping electric guitar with the forefather of the banjo and funky drum breaks with the traditional percussion of the scraper and the calabash.

Though very much her own woman, Arby, born in a village not far from the famed city of Timbutku, is firmly planted in the desert sand. Her creativity flows in part from the people of her home region of Northern Mali—the young musicians in her band all hail from Timbuktu—and from their past and present struggles. As Arby puts it, "Trab is our land, our home, Timbuktu. Its history, its mystery, everything."

And this history runs deep through Arby's music. "Djaba" is a song about a legendary ancestral Tamashek warrior; it is also an authentic dance in Timbuktu. By reframing and reinterpreting the tale, Arby hopes to not only retell this important story, but also keep the dance alive among younger generations. "Sourgou" recounts the Tamasheks' struggle against colonial domination, while "Youba" recounts struggles of a more contemporary sort, praising the brave return of salt mine workers by moonlight. 

Arby has taken up—and updated—one important role of African women in traditional societies: praise singing. This means bluesy homage to the prophet Mohammed ("Salou") or to good friends. "Dja Cheickna" praises a beautiful friend of Arby's from a good family: "May Dja Cheickna live a good life." The song bursts with funky high-hat, sizzling bass and guitar, and Arby's stunning yodeling, as age-old hand-clapping rhythms entwine with crunchy distorted guitar.

Yet despite deep roots, Arby has long gone her own way, turning the bright compliments and veiled metaphors of traditional female praise and critique into hard-edged calls for change and justice. Her own life, discouraged by relatives who did not approve of her public performances, has honed this message. And like Miriam Makeba and other African divas before her, Arby embraces her power through words.

Arby's composition process maximizes this and begins with the words themselves, drawing on a theme and developing lyrics from there. For her, the melody, rhythm and accompaniment all come later, highlighting the importance of music as social criticism to her fellow Malians. While she draws on the four languages of her heritage, the true impact of words bursts forth in her strong vocal delivery.

Arby addresses issues both painful and controversial, yet with a profound sense of heart and personal connection. In "Wayidou," she pleads for the better treatment of women in Mali in general, "Happiness for women is gone. In these times we cannot speak of happiness and light. Why in a country of beautiful women do men go to war?" 

In "Feryene," she speaks out against female circumcision, which has hurt or killed many young Malian women, and continues to be a common practice. "Female excision has caused much suffering and much human loss. I am making people aware so that it ends and so that all Mali fights against it. As a mother I am making my contribution to that effort."

Khaira Arby, singing out and speaking out, has still become a darling of the Malian scene, as she captures the modern buzz of Timbuktu and the lilting pace of the desert sands, a world of movement and flow. 

Yet her mind is always on the hope and struggle that guides her songs: "I dream of a recording studio and cultural center in Timbuktu for young talent, and I want to struggle against war, sickness, and poverty by recording albums in all the languages I can. I want to teach the daughters of the world, teach them to think, to value themselves, to sing."

  • Members

    Album: TIMBUKTU TARAB Lead Singer: KHAIRA ARBY Drums: Mahalmadane Traoré Bass:Baba Laraw Lead Guitar: Abdramane Touré Rhythm Guitar: M'Barka Dembelé Traditional Violin: Zoumane Tekereta Ngoni: Ebellaou Yattara Backup Vocals: Inna Diarra and Abdrahamane Cissé Year Released: 2010 USA by Clermont Music Recorded at: Studio Bogolan, Bamako, Mali , February 2010 by Boris Persikoff Mixed and Mastered by: Stephane Blaess Mixed at: Popcornlab, Paris Musical Director: Khaira Arby Arrangements by: Khaira Arby and Dedeou Traore a.k.a. Hanteteou Music by: Khaira Arby and Dedeou Traore Lyrics by: Khaira Arby Publishing: Popcorn, SACEM Timbukti tarab is avalaible on AMAZON.COM Many thanks to Mr Sidina Moulaye and the Ali Farka TOURE Foundation, to Baba Drahamane Traore (Dedeou), to Djadje Sangare and to everyone in the North of Mali.

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