Blue Note presents Vieux Farka Touré

Blue Note presents Vieux Farka Touré in the JaM Cellars Ballroom on Friday, July 19, at 8 p.m. Often referred to as “The Hendrix of the Sahara,” Vieux Farka Touré was born in Mali in 1981. He is the son of legendary guitar player Ali Farka Touré, who died in 2006. Ali Farka Touré came from a historical tribe of soldiers and defied his parents in becoming a musician. When Vieux was in his teens, he declared that he also wanted to be a musician. His father disapproved because of the pressures he had experienced as a musician. He wanted Vieux to become a soldier. But with help from family friend, the kora maestro Toumani Diabaté, Vieux eventually convinced his father to give him his blessing to become a musician shortly before Ali passed. JaM Cellars Ballroom is upstairs in the Napa Valley Opera House. Blue Note, 1030 Main St., Napa, bluenotejazz.com/napa