His name is Ali Farka Toure and his new album (and last album, as he recently died) is called Savane. I really think it is the best album of the year. I have never heard anything like it before. If you are a fan of roots music, and amazing organic guitar work, this is a must buy. The short of it: he was from Mali, and in his music you see the deep roots of American blues music--but also the effect of American radio in the 50's on indigenous African music. He is described as the African John Lee-Hooker. Buy it.