Justin Adams and Juldeh Camara are winners of a coveted Radio 3 World Music Award. Their CD Soul Science is a union between Gambian Juldeh Camara's West African singing and playing of the one-string fiddle, the riti, and Adams, an English rock guitarist who uses African rhythms and plays in Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant's band. Juldeh (pictured) talked about his background and meeting Adams ahead of playing in Oxford tomorrow.

He learnt the riti from his blind father and, as a youth, travelled with him playing in villages. Similar to the way some blues players are said to have encountered the devil, Juldeh said his father's skill came from forest spirits. "The djinn took his eyes, gave him the riti, the gift to play on it and see what others cannot see."

In England, Juldeh has collaborated with R&B, world jazz, and ceilidh dance musicians and made music for the National Theatre production Elmina's Kitchen. It was being given a cassette of Justin's solo CD Desert Blues that led him to Adams.

"I took it to Gambia and played the riti along with it. I thought who is that? He is from Mali or a black American. And when I was told, 'No, he is English', I could not believe it." Remarkably, when Juldeh made the phone call, Justin told him he had been listening to Juldeh for years on a recording of traditional Gambian music.

Their much-praised gritty raw sound emerged from their first session together. "When I met Justin, I trusted him immediately. I was going to play more elaborate music but Justin said to play just the basic music."

They with percussionist Barnaby Dawson are at the Carling Academy tomorrow, with a workshop free to ticket holders beforehand.

Looking ahead to Saturday, May 3, Daphna Sadeh and the Voyageurs make a welcome return playing Middle Eastern and Mediterranean music at the North Wall Centre, in Summertown. For tickets for both events phone 01865 305305.