Balla Kouyate live at Rose!
June 10, 2008
DJ Laylo spinning everything your heart and hips want to hear.
@ Rose Live Music
345 Grand Street
bet. Havemeyer & Marcy
L to Bedford – J/M/Z to Marcy – G to Metropolitan
* NO COVER – FREE *
www.myspace.com/djlaylo
www.liveatrose.com
Sponsored by: Fusicology, One Soul, Fresthetic, Toofly, Nomadic Wax, 5th Element, Hip Hop Association, LatinoLife
Nomadic Wax, DJ Laylo and Rose Live Music Present:
World renowned Ballafon Master Balla Kouyate returns to Brooklyn to
throw down in an all night dance party….Mali Style. Balla will be
accompanied by his allstar band, Mackane Kouyate on Calabash and Talking drum, “Pablo” on
Djembe, Thierno Camara on Bass and Raja Kassis on Guitar.
About Balla:
Balla
Kouyaté is one of the greatest balafon players from the Djeli or
“griot” tradition in Mali. The Kouyatés were the first djelis in the
Mandé Empire. The balafon (ancestor of the xylophone) was given to
Balla’s ancestors by nobles in the 12th century and has remained in his
family ever since.
Balla seemed destined to play this
instrument, learning at the age of six. He performed for the first time
in Bamako, Mali at “Palais de la Culture” with Malian singer Sanignai
Kouyaté. In 1994, he was a member of the National Percussion of Mali.
By 1997 he was granted the opportunity to play with singer Ami Koïta at
the O.I.A. conference, which brought together 27 African presidents.
Balla
has been called on to play with many African artists touring in the
United States and his superior musicianship has been featured on at
least 35 albums. Currently he works with kora master Mamadou Diabaté
playing venues such as Lincoln Center Outdoor Festival, Symphony Space
and festivals around the country. They both are part of Roswell Rudd’s
MALIcool ensemble. In 2004, Balla played with Sidiki Condé at Carnegie
Hall for a month long residency for children, and has been engaged by
many African artists to tour in the United States. He joined Ursel
Schlicht’s Ex Tempore in 2004. While playing with Ex Tempore, he felt
the need to expand the tonal possibilities of the balafon and created a
chromatic instrument, to his knowledge the first chromatic balafon
ever. Check out his Collaborations page to see more of his current and
past projects.
Friday, June 13th, 10pm
Rose Live Music
345 Grand St (btw havermeyer and Marcy)
Brooklyn, NY, 11211
FREE!!!
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