Ba Cissoko is a talented Guinea-Bissauan multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, born in 1967 He’s a jeli (also known as griot), part of a long line of master musicians. He learned traditional Mandinka music from M’ Bady Kouyaté.
Although he’s a kora (West African harp) master, Ba Cissoko also plays ngoni, guitar and percussion. His band regularly features a second kora player, creating fascinating interplay.
Ba Cissoko’s sound is a mix of electric Mandinka music and traditional influences. Ba Cissoko incorporates rock, reggae and pop into his sound. The kora is played traditional style and electrified as well.
His 2006 album, Electric Griot Land, is a nod to Jimi Hendrix’s vision, who adjusted his blues origins to his time. That’s Ba Cissoko’s musical process, who was just born when the guitarist was starting on his revolution.
In 2009 he released Séno, another nod to Jimi Hendrix’s vision. By his side in 2010, his band included his two cousins, Kourou the elder on bass and bolon, and Sékou, the young prodigy who transforms the kora with saturated effects, and Dartagnan (percussion) and Abdoulaye Kouyaté (guitar). “To modernize the Manding tradition to better spread it; to transgress it, to really honor it,” says Ba Cissoko.
His first major international appearance was in 1995 in Marseilles at the Festival Nuits Métis. In 1999 he formed his band.
Discography:
Sabolan (Marabi, 2002)
Electric Griot Land (2006)
Séno (2009)
Nimissa (Cristal Records, 2012)
Djeli (Cristal Records, 2016)
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.