Hear the sounds of western music and West African music in works by North Carolina-based Senegalese kora master Diali Cissokho and Kaira Ba, the Alba Griot Ensemble, Orchestre Baka Gbiné featuring the Baka people from the rainforests of Cameroon and musicians with Celtic roots, and Malituanie – a collaboration between musicians from Lithuania and Mali.
Senegalese music meets Salsa music in a work from Diali Cissokho and Kaira Ba, “Salsa Xalel,” where a salsa melody was embellished with balafon and talking drum, group vocals and brass. The North Carolina-based Diali Cissokho, together with drummer Austin McCall have gathered jazz guitarist John Westmoreland, ethnomusicologist Jonathan Henderson on bass, and percussionist Will Ridenour as Kaira Ba. Then, listen to the Alba Griot Ensemble, who are two Scottish guitarists, Mark Mulholland and Craig Ward, the Belgian double bassist Hannes d’Hoine and the Malian n’goni player and percussionist Yacouba Sissoko.
Hear Cuban pianist Roberto Fonseca, in collaboration with Malian singer Fatoumata Diawara. There’s music by Senegalese kora player Solo Cissoko and Indrė Jurgelevičiūtė, a Lithuanian singer / kanklės player (Baltic psaltery) who blend folk song traditions and trade melodies from West Africa and Eastern Europe. Also, hear an original piece, named after a street in London by Malian kora player Toumani Diabate, and more.
Program #4151: West Meets West Africa
ARTIST: Toumani Diabate
WORK: Elyne Road [1:30]
RECORDING: The Mande Variations
SOURCE: Nonesuch #433724
INFO: nonesuch.com
ARTIST: Alba Griot Ensemble
WORK: Yacouba Sissoko: Horonia [3:53]
RECORDING: The Darkness Between the Leaves
SOURCE: Riverboat TUG 1113
INFO: worldmusic.net
ARTIST: Baka Beyond
WORK: Spirit Of The Forest [5:30]
RECORDING: Spirit Of The Forest
SOURCE: Hannibal HNCD 1377
INFO: Available at Amazon.com
ARTIST: Orchestre Baka Gbiné
WORK: Topé malangui bodé [4:37]
RECORDING: Kopolo
SOURCE: baka.gbine.com
INFO: gbine.com
ARTIST: Roberto Fonseca
WORK: Bibisa (w/ Fatoumata Diawara) [4:34]
RECORDING: Yo
SOURCE: Concord Jazz PRO-CJ-0575
INFO: concord.com | robertofonseca.com
ARTIST: Diali Cissokho & Kaira Ba
WORK: Salsa Xalel [3:58]
RECORDING: Routes
SOURCE: Twelve | Eight Records
INFO: kairabamusic.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Songhoy Blues
WORK: Soubour [3:39]
RECORDING: Africa Express Presents: Maison Des Jeunes
SOURCE: Africa Express
INFO: musicglue.com | songhoyblues.com
ARTIST: Diali Cissokho & Kaira Ba
WORK: Alla L'a Ke [6:50]
RECORDING: Routes
SOURCE: Twelve | Eight Records
INFO: kairabamusic.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Toumani Diabate
WORK: Elyne Road [8:50]
RECORDING: The Mande Variations
SOURCE: Nonesuch #433724
INFO: nonesuch.com
ARTIST: Malituanie feat. Baba Sissoko, led by Indrė Jurgelevičiūtė
WORK: Laydou – Promise [6:42]
RECORDING: Malituanie
SOURCE: onerootmusic.com
INFO: onerootmusic.bandcamp.com