Youssou N'Dour is one of the most celebrated African musicians in history. A renowned singer, songwriter and composer. Youssou's mix of Sengalese m'balax with eclectic influences ranging from Cuban samba to hip hop, jazz and soul has won him an international fan base of millions.

By Russel Walder

Wherever you were last Friday night, if you weren't at Auckland Town Hall you might be wishing you were. The sensational Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour gave a mammoth show... Youssou N'Dour is one of the most celebrated African musicians in history. A renowned singer, songwriter and composer. Youssou's mix of Sengalese m'balax with eclectic influences ranging from Cuban samba to hip hop, jazz and soul has won him an international fan base of millions.

By Russel Walder

Wherever you were last Friday night, if you weren't at Auckland Town Hall you might be wishing you were. The sensational Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour gave a mammoth show...with his band of four percussionists, 2 guitarists, bass, keyboards, backing singer and dancer. Everyone had their moment to shine, but it's N'Dours extraordinary voice that lifts one to another place.

The music is multi-layered with rippling guitar lines that weave and interlock the rest of the music and make it shimmer. His set combined a good taste of his catalogue with pieces spanning his career. I was disappointed that the place wasn't packed with a queue around the block. It's nothing short of madness that the Idol nonsense would pack most places out and here is a genius within walking distance. Go Figure!

Now, that voice. An amazing instrument. Dark, husky, and vibrant. So distinctive like Joni Mitchell or Peter Gabriel. You know it the second you hear it.

He included his hit Seven Seconds with Neneh Cherry and Shakin The Tree with Gabriel. It was odd that such great tunes as those almost seemed out of place considering it was a showcase of his Senegal contemporary music. The music was deep, beautiful and rocking beyond belief. The audience was out of their chairs by the third song and stayed dancing the rest of the night.

His female backing singer stepped out into the spotlight to sing Seven Seconds as a duet with N'Dour while his dancer moved in such a way that I thought she learned to dance on a planet with slightly less gravity.

It's concerts like these that always remind me that music is the vibration of the soul; able to express an opening, an understanding, a shift of consciousness with no words.

That's why we love it...

ENDS