Kala Jula & Gangbé Brass Band feat Fama Diabaté – Asro (Tribute to Kassé Mady Diabaté) (Buda Musique, 2023)
In a powerful homage to the late Kassé Mady Diabaté, Asro brings together the remarkable talents of Kala Jula, the high energy Gangbé Brass Band, and teenage prodigy Fama Diabaté. This collaboration is a fearlessly original and dazzling pan-African journey that mixes soul, Sahelian blues, and the rich traditions of the Mande griots.
Vincent Zanetti and Samba Diabaté, key figures of Kala Jula, draw deeply from the musical roots of Benin’s voodoo and West African jeliya, the storytelling tradition of the griots. In Kéla, Fama’s hometown and the heart of griot culture, the two musicians met with the legendary singer Kassé Mady Diabaté, who offered his blessing for their project. Tragically, Kassé Mady passed away two months later, making this work a heartfelt tribute to his legacy.
At the core of this tribute is 13-year-old Fama Diabaté, a rising star whose voice has already earned international recognition. Like his great-grandfather, the renowned Jeli Fama, Fama’s gift has been acknowledged as an extraordinary continuation of his family’s griot lineage.
The project’s orchestration is equally remarkable, with a captivating mix of balafon, talking drums, and brass. Guitarist Samba Diabaté and multi-instrumentalist Vincent Zanetti are joined by the dynamic Gangbé Brass Band, one of Africa’s most iconic brass ensembles. The band seamlessly fuses Beninese musical traditions with jazz, creating a grassroots brass sound that connects African, Caribbean, and New Orleans Creole cultures.
Kala Jula: Samba Diabaté on guitar, jeli ngoni; Vincent Zanetti on jembe, kora, guitar, artistic direction; Fama Diabaté on vocals, balafon; and Mahamadou Diabaté on guitar, jeli ngoni.
Gangbé Brass Band: Benoît Avihoué on percussion, vocals ; Wendo Martial Ahouandjinou on trombone, chant; Ebenezer Abdias Zésahou Akloé on saxophones, vocals; Athanase Obed Dehoumon on bugle, vocals; Crespin Kpitiki on percussion, vocals solo; Prosper Odjo on trumpet, vocals; and James Vodounon on sousaphone, vocals.
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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.