Youssou N’Dour has been at the forefront of world music for more than forty years. His voice, rooted in the Senegalese griot tradition, encompasses the full musical spectrum of his country: from rhythmic mbalax to influences from soul, jazz, and Cuban rumba. Peter Gabriel once called him one of the best singers in the world; and Rolling Stone wrote that the history of Africa seems to be locked within his voice. His duet Seven Seconds with Neneh Cherry became a European hit, and his album Egypt won a Grammy Award. Yale and Berklee awarded him honorary doctorates for his impact on world music. N’Dour made his debut at North Sea Jazz back in 1989 and he now returns with his unrivalled band Le Super Étoile. On his new album Eclairer Le Monde, produced by Snarky Puppy founder Michael League, N’Dour combines traditional instruments like the kora, ngoni, and balafon in a powerful and totally contemporary sound. This is world music at its finest.
