The Mandé Variations

For this spellbinding recording, Malian musician Toumani Diabaté captures a single recital with his 21-string African harp—playing alone, without accompaniment. The results are absolutely breathtaking. Minus adornment or distraction, we can hear nuances in the instrument that we never noticed before. For the rapturous, 10-minute-long "Si Naani," he uses Egyptian tuning, teasing out the piece's most ethereal qualities. Other tracks, like the delightful "Elyne Road," bring out melodic elements that are as catchy as any pop song.