Last year, Bassekou Kouyate, a preeminent Malian ngoni player (a banjo-like instrument), brought his six-piece group Ngoni Ba to Atlas for an exhilarating evening of dance rhythms from multiple high-pitched string and percussion instruments. Kouyate will be back with a smaller, four-piece band, Ngoni Blues. Despite the different name, the music is likely to convey some of the same charm, albeit with subtle changes. With one fewer ngoni and one fewer drum, Kouyate’s gorgeous almost harp-like notes will stand out more, and give him more room to solo. His wife Amy’s stirring melodic vocals will also have more space. This won’t translate into self-indulgence; expect this proficient unit to get people moving to their rocking West African stringwork. Oct. 24 at Artisphere. $20–$30.