Whether invoking ancestral tradition or innovating modern sounds, string musicians strive for a connection with listeners that seems sui generis to their craft. Here are some recent examples. Kôrôlén (World Circuit) captures a historic meeting between kora master Toumani Diabaté and the London Symphony Orchestra. The Mandinka word for “ancestral,” Kôrôlén consists of six delightful pieces and is the first recording of kora (a large...
