Missing You (Mi Yeewnii)

1	Yoolelle Maman 4:19
2	Miyaabele 3:54
3	Fa Laay Fanaan 4:52
4	Leytdi Ma 3:47
5	Jamma Jenngii 4:28
6	Fanta 4:20
7	Laare Yoo 4:58
8	Senegaale Ngummee 4:44
9	Mamadi 5:03
10	Kowoni Maayo (Mi Yeewnii) 5:51
11	Allah Addu Jam 6:54

Barnes & Noble

Senegal's self-made griot, Baaba Maal, is fully back-to-roots on the triumphant Missing You (Mi Yeewnii). After the heavy-handed fusion of Nomad Soul, Baaba's finally done what Western fans have yearned for, returning with an elemental spread of acoustic guitar, kora, balaphon, bass, choir, and percussion such as talking drum to deliver a warm album that conveys the vast earthiness of his native land -- not to mention the raw power of his crack live shows. Not since Djam Leeli, Maal's intimate showdown with guitarist Mansour Seck, has his natural gift -- a soaring high tenor -- so richly rewarded the listener. Recorded in a mobile studio in the coastal village of Nbunk, the tracks often pick up the mellow background sounds of crickets and local goings-on. A sense of measured repose reigns throughout as Baaba heartily sings of lovers, family, nature scenes, and African unity. Studio maven Chris Franck (Bebel Gilberto, Da Lata, Smoke City) offers his hand at guitar and Brazilian percussion, and Baaba's backing singers make songs such as "Jumma Jengi" and "Fa Laay Fanaan" positively sparkle. But "Allah Addu Jam" is the crown jewel here, capping the album with enough spirit to arouse green thoughts in the most praise-filled gospel choir. Pensively strumming his hoddu (a four-string zither), Baaba's sonorous entreaty for peace is soon joined by the full-throttle revelry of his band, Daande Lenol, and it's easy as ever to see why folks such as Carlos Santana and Peter Gabriel remain such fans of this man. Abraham Velez

All Music Guide

As one of Africa's most pivotal musicians, Baaba Maal has consistently produced music that challenges cultural expectations as well as political/social consciousness. Since he was not born into the griot caste, the group that traditionally produces music and documents history, Maal oversteps many barriers to create tunes that inspire dancing, thinking, and spiritual connection. Missing You (Mi Yeewnii) represents a pinnacle of sorts. After the commercial success of Firin' in Fouta and Nomad Soul, which were albums that presented a seamless blending of modern and traditional cultures, Missing You returns to the natural essence of African music -- the people and land itself. It's an offering that reaches both the modern and traditional worlds without compromise. This CD is a collection of intimate, pure tunes enhanced only by traditional instruments and Maal's soaring voice. Recorded in the small village of Nbunk, just outside of Maal's native Dakar, the album brims with the nuances of rural African life. Composed on acoustic guitar, the songs range from the throbbing percussion of "Leydi Ma," to the unadorned simplicity of "Miyaabele," a melody indigenous to all of West Africa, which Maal brilliantly uses as a plea for African unity. Boasting balafons, koras, drums, hoddu (African lute), and even crickets, Missing You reflects Maal's vision of one Africa, and it's a beautiful vision indeed. Rosalind Cummings-Yeates