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"Mali Blues w/ Universal Love Band @ Club Timbuktu - Two
of Milwaukee's most uplifting bands, both of which feature bassist, songwriter
and resident master of Malian music KT Rusch, share tonight's bill. Mali Blues plays
self-described "afro-desert blues - think Ali Farka Toure by way of Howlin'
Wolf. Universal Love Band, meanwhile, aims for a more eclectic reggae/world
sound." Shepherd
Express 11/2/2006
"When she's not shuttling her kids to the typical activites of
suburban youth or volunteering to help troubled kids through Express Yourself Milwaukee,
Mequon's KT Rusch can be found laying down taut bass lines for two Afrocentric
bands. Rusch is the backbone in both Scorcher Family Reggae, a ragtag collective of
almost perfect diversity, and Mali Blues Group, a cast of African musicians that revolves
around Rusch and kamelon ngoni (an African harp-like instrument) virtuoso Tani
Diakite. Rusch's polished chops and positive vibes and absolute command of
the low end keeps her band on task. The mission: to dispense "music as
medicine," she says. No spoonful of sugar needed - it gets down just fine."
Milwaukee Magazine October 2006 - Best of Milwaukee
"Mali Blues Group: Live from Madison and Milwaukee - Imagine
that one of the intersections of Western African and Western rock music happens
right here in Wisconsin! Mali Blues Group brings together folks like Tani Diakite
who hails from Mali, a land-locked African nation bordering both Senegal and the Sahara
desert, and folks from Wisconsin like KT Rusch. Together they forge an interesting
sound that is tight and raucous like a good drum circle should be, yet explores the
interplay between traditional gourd and skin instruments like the djembe and the kamelon
ngoni and the electric bass. The combination may be more natural than it seems on
the surface, as most instrumentation we take for granted as 'rock' had its roots in the
traditions of African music. This live CD was recorded in both Madison and Milwaukee
and for live sound it is well miked and the sound quality is amazing. for a group
with "blues" in the title, I found the tracks to be bouncy, uplifting,
and even without being familiar with the language in the vocals, I felt like vocalizing
along with them." Nerve
House Fall 2006
Art
Changes Lives Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Article 5/19/2006 Express Yourself
Milwaukee's program at the Milwaukee County Juvenile Detention Center
Interview with
OnMilwaukee.com by
Molly Synder Edler 6/2/2006
"Malian Blues group featuring
Tani Diakite and KT Rusch Club Timbuktu - Sure Malian Blues Group's rootsy,
danceable groove earns the Milwaukee band most of its accolades. but the group...is
also about producing good vibes..."
Shepherd Express November, 2005
Interview with
kt University of Wisconsin Post with A&E editor
12/2005
Wanna smile! Need a little positive reality! Check
out KT, Holly, Dena and friends' podcast of "One River"
from Club Timbuktu's Return to Africa Fundraiser November 2005
check this out:
author .
Sheldon Rusch home page
Express
Yourself Milwaukee
Diego Costa
Club Timbuktu
Tyler Traband
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