Despite many challengers in recent years, Diabate is still the world champion of the kora. The Mande Variations is only his second unaccompanied disc, but stylistically, it’s miles away from his debut Kaira more than 20 years ago. Diabate has always pushed the kora in new musical directions. On this disc, the altered tunings of the first cut “Si Naani” are an immediate signal that this isn’t an orthodox run through Mande folklore. His frilly, precise style is everywhere — perhaps too much so on his tribute to Ali Farka Toure. Far more often than not, Diabate’s virtuosity adapts well to inspirations as diverse as British folk music, almost techno-like minimalism or in the closing cut, Ennio Morricone.

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