JeConte & The Mali Allstars is yet another example of a collaboration between an American blues musician and a number of West African counterparts. JeConte (vocals & harmonica), Boubacar Sidibé (vocals, harmonica, guitar) and Adama Dramé (vocals, guitar & ngoni), together forming the core of JeConte & The Mali Allstars, met at the 2010 edition of the Festival Du Desert and are now presenting this first long player. Unfortunately 'Mali Blues', the fruit of their collaboration, didn't really impress yours truly all that much. Despite the presence of Malian heavyweights like Khaira Arby, Bassekou Kouyate or Vieux Farka Toure, the album lacks authenticity and sounds a tad too overproduced, and yes, too American to our taste.