Kora master, vocalist, and composer Kimintang Mahamadou Cissoko, better known as Ablaye Cissoko, was born in 1970 in Kolda, Senegal. His first live concert with his kora was at the age of 12. Later, he enrolled in the joined the Conservatoire of music in Dakar.
Ablaye Cissoko is a part of new generation of acclaimed artists from Senegal. He is one of the finest kora players of his generation, a member of the acclaimed Cissoko/Sissoko griot family, and is based in Saint Louis in Senegal.
Although his music is rooted in ancient Mandinka traditions, Cissoko composes new material and is known for his interest in collaborating with musicians from the world music, jazz, and even classical or baroque musical scenes.
Ablaye Cissoko released his first album Diam in 2003. He has performed worldwide and shared studio or stage time with famous artists such as Randy Weston, Eric Bibb, Constantinople & Kiya Tabassian, Omar Pene, Cheikh Tidiane Seck, Simon Goubert, Volker Goetze, Sophia Domancich, Majid Bekkas, and Hervé Samb.
He has collaborated intensively with German jazz trumpet player Volker Goetze. The duo released three albums: Sira (2008), Amanké Dionti (2012) and Djaliya (2014).
Ablaye also collaborated with the Constantinople ensemble playing traditional Persian music. This collaboration included the albums Jardins migrateurs (2012) and Traversées (2019).
In 2022, he released Instant, a duo with French accordionist Cyrille Brotto.
(headline image: Ablaye Cissoko – Photo by Cedrick Nöt)
Discography
Solo
Diam (Ma Case, 2003)
Le Griot Rouge (Ma Case, 2005)
Mes Racines (Ma Case, 2013)
With Volker Goetze
Sira (ObliqSound, 2008)
Amanké Dionti (Motéma, 2012)
Djaliya (Ma Case, 2014)
With Cyrille Brotto
Instant (Ma Case, 2022)
With Majid Bekkas
Mabrouk (Bee Jazz, 2011)
With Simon Goubert
African Jazz Roots (Cristal Records, 2012)
Au Loin (2017)
With Constantinople
Jardins Migrateurs (Ma Case, 2015)
Traversées (Ma Case, 2019)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.