Active in the Swedish jazz and improvisation scene since the 1970s, he often played the bass clarinet, traveled to Mali in 1971 and eventually arrived in the Wassoulu region of southern Mali, where he encountered the donso n’goni, the sacred harp of the hunter caste in Wassoulu society. Traditionally, playing this instrument was restricted to members of the hunter brotherhood, but Bothén found a dedicated teacher named Brouema Dobia. After months of intensive one-on-one lessons, Bothén was reportedly permitted to perform both in the traditional style and in his own unique style. Upon returning to Sweden, Bothén shared what he had learned with Don Cherry and performed the Donso n’goni in various innovative settings, including the Afro-jazz fusion on *Trance* (reissued on LP by Black Truffle last year, in 2024).
Christer Bothén’s *Donso n’goni* features seven short pieces performed by his protégé and collaborator, the renowned bassist Kansan/Torbjorn Zetterberg, and—with the exception of Track 3, “Waso Manjé,” on which Marianne N’Lemvo Linden plays a second Donso n’goni—are all spiritual West African jazz pieces brimming with a profound sense of spirituality, intensely focused on his hypnotically repetitive pentatonic patterns, and stand as masterful Donso n’goni solos. The subtle, groovy richness is also captivating.
Produced by Johan Berthling (member of Fire! & Ghosted), the album was recorded over three sessions in Stockholm between 2019 and 2023.
Includes detailed liner notes written by the artist himself, accompanied by stunning color photographs taken during his stay in Mali. Comes with a download code. (Original Japanese text by COMPUMA)