By Luca Testoni

Having definitively put behind her the legal troubles of recent years—starting with her detention across Belgium, France, and Italy, a direct result of a bitter custody battle with her former partner over their daughter—Rokia Traoré has finally returned to her natural element: the stage.

Her goal now is to “reclaim” her crown as the queen of African singer-songwriter music.

The rebirth of the Malian singer-songwriter, composer, and multi-instrumentalist—who burst onto the international scene nearly three decades ago and boasts prestigious collaborations with the likes of Damon Albarn (Blur), John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin), and Nobel laureate writer Toni Morrison—includes a trio of concerts in Italy: on October 24th at the Teatro Puccini in Florence, on October 27th at Alcatraz in Milan as part of JAZZMI, and on October 28th at the Teatro Apollo in Lecce for Salento Jazz. Joining her on stage is an outstanding lineup: from the celebrated Malian guitarist Samba Diabaté, born into a family of griots like Traoré, to the imaginative French keyboardist Sylvain Rabbath, alongside an extremely reliable rhythm section featuring Malians Aristide Nebout on bass and Angelo Agbasse on drums.

Recently seen performing live in Sardinia at the Dromos Festival, Rokia Traoré looked anything but rusty. On the contrary, she appeared exceptionally vibrant and eager to pick up right where she left off, staying true to her musical formula: blending traditional Mandingo music with modern sounds like jazz and rock. A concert that offers room to reflect on life—which changes when you least expect it and often gives too much to some and too little to many—while also inviting audiences to let go in liberating dance.

“With music, I try to make dreams come true,” is her mission statement. Well then… keep us dreaming, Rokia.

Info & Tickets jazzmi.it

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