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The rich history of music comes together in “I Can Tell,” the newest single by jazz guitarist, composer, author, and educator Dr. Pascal Bokar Thiam. With influences stemming from his upbringing and travels in Paris, Mali, Senegal, and the United States, Pascal creates a sound that tells the story of how culture and tradition move from one continent to another. It offers a glimpse into his unique style known as AfroBlueGrazz. The style encompasses a dynamic between the aesthetic of Africa, the blues, bluegrass, and jazz.
Not seeing these styles of music as different but rather interconnected, Pascal seeks to draw on the history between different types of music through the way he was raised in many different environments.
A Musical Conversation Between Africa and America
“I Can Tell” is grounded in Pascal’s years-long study of the correlation between West African tradition and the development of American music. For him, knowledge of jazz’s development and history presupposes awareness of African rhythm, instrumentation, and philosophy that had shaped the emergence of the genre.
Banjo, blues scale, swing, and many of the notions related to the history of American popular music come out of the West African tradition. With “I Can Tell,” Pascal reveals that influence with the help of instruments and traditional elements that reflect the common roots, such as the balafon, which is the West African predecessor of the marimba, and the Senegalese sabar drumming.
“I Can Tell” does not simply revisit the past. It demonstrates how those traditions continue to evolve through contemporary blues, funk, R&B, and soul. For Pascal, these sounds represent an ongoing conversation between generations, showing how ancestral influences continue to inspire new forms of expression.
Seeking the Soul in Simplicity
In addition to studying, performing with, and collaborating on music projects alongside some of the most respected artists in the world of jazz, including Dizzy Gillespie and Donald Byrd, Pascal’s career experience taught him that dedication is crucial for mastering the craft.
The teachings he received then still shape the approach he takes to writing songs and making recordings. Despite being something one needs to learn for several years, Pascal is convinced that the best musical expressions come from clarity and honesty.
This is the concept the song “I Can Tell” was written upon, composed in such a way that it duels professional musicianship with a catchy chorus that will hook listeners instantly. The idea of the song was built from the assumption that sound can speak to people regardless of their background.
“The musicians I use are master players of their respective instruments in their tradition,” Bokar says about the recording that features influences of blues, bluegrass, funk, gospel, R&B, and jazz. “It is the vibration of the sound waves that speaks to the collective rhythm of our souls.”
Expanding the Legacy of Jazz
Bokar’s career has been marked by recognition from institutions and publications that celebrate his contributions to jazz, including the Jim Hall Jazz Master Award from Berklee, recognition from DownBeat, and a feature in Scott Yanow’s Great Jazz Guitars. However, he views these achievements less as destinations and more as reminders to continue pursuing his artistic mission.
His work as an educator has also played a major role in shaping his creative approach. Teaching musicians at different stages of their development has reinforced the importance of communicating ideas clearly and finding the balance between knowledge and expression. Pascal Bokar Thiam is also an author, having written numerous books, including The Banjo is From West Africa, which is utilized in colleges and universities.
After performing at more than fifty jazz festivals around the world, Bokar understands that music’s greatest strength comes from its ability to connect people regardless of geography or background. He often returns to the words of legends like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Randy Weston, Art Blakey, and Dizzy Gillespie, who emphasized that great music reaches people through feeling.
“I Can Tell” embodies that belief. The single honors the traditions that shaped jazz while introducing those influences to a new generation of listeners. Through AfroBlueGrazz, Dr. Pascal Bokar Thiam continues to explore the shared roots of global music. He’s proving that rhythm remains one of humanity’s most universal languages.
Listen to “I Can Tell” below:
