Six Things You Should Know About Tinariwen

1. “Tinariwen” translates from the Tamasheq Tuareg language as “deserts”
2. They were formed by guitarist Ibrahim Ag Alhabib, who was originally influenced by North African chaabi and rai music as well as American rock and blues
3. Their 2011 album, Tassili, won the GRAMMY for Best World Music Album
4. When asked to describe Tinariwen’s sound, bassist Eyadou Ag Leche used the word ”assouf,” a Tamasheq word that loosely translates to “a longing and nostalgia for the desert life”
5. The band performed at the opening ceremony of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa
6. Due to the political unrest in Mali, the band recorded their new album, Emmaar, in a different desert than their usual home in the Sahara – California’s Mojave Desert near Joshua Tree

More information about Tinariwen here.

PHOTO: Bassekou Kouyaté & Ngoni Ba at SFJAZZ Center

"Tonight, you are king and queen," Bassekou Kouyaté joked last night to a jam-packed Miner Auditorium, amid an enthralling two set performance at the SFJAZZ Center. As a griot, Kouyaté traces his musical lineage back to the wealthy West African empire founded by Sundiata Keita in the 13th century, when his ancestors entertained the royal court. Backed by his family, Ngoni Ba, Kouyaté now entertains audiences worldwide, and brings elements of rock and funk into his Malian tradition (occasionally stepping on an effects pedal, electrifying his ngoni). Below are a few photographs from last night's performance.

Plenty more artists from Africa and all around the world are coming to the SFJAZZ Center in 2014. Keep up with the SFJAZZ Calendar. For more photos, check out SFJAZZ Flickr.