Afro-Mandinka Soul - Tama Silo - Seckou Keita Quartet
[EUCD2028]

CD Information • CD Title: Afro-Mandinka Soul • Artist(s): Seckou Keita • CD Code: EUCD2028 • Tracks: 10 • Playing Time: 56:13 min • Booklet Info in: English, German, French, Spanish

Seckou Keita presents his Quartet with West African kora, a host of African drums and percussion, double bass, Egyptian violin, riti (fiddle), n'goni (lute), cajon (box drum)… Beautiful, soothing, almost hypnotic music.

"Seckou Keita, an inspired exponent of the kora can make the
West African harp-lute sound like a small band." - Guardian

"Keita's vocals, passionate and melodic, add an element to an
already inspired recording." - Dirty Linen

Seckou Keita, a young UK-based Senegalese artist and virtuoso of the kora, is back with an extraordinary four-piece band that brings together the best in Afro-Mandinka soul music. Performing with Egyptian violinist, Sammy Bishai, Italian double bassist, Davide Mantovani, and Gambian percussionist, Surahata Susso, the foursome have created something new and truly exciting.

Following a successful tour in 2004, the band embarked on the journey to create this album. Some of the intricate and soulful melodies come from Seckou's experimental tunings, which are truly revolutionary. Along the road, the artists explored diverse notes and rhythms, expanding the boundary of the traditional framework.

This album bridges the traditional and the contemporary, weaving ancestral stories with the reality of the past, present and future. The Quartet is very proud and excited to present this album and hope you will enjoy the adventure as much as they did.

The main instruments:

Kora

The kora is a classical instrument of West African griots, the historical keepers of oral tradition and praise songs. The kora is often accompanied by singing and percussion. The music is soothing, almost hypnotic, and is said to have very real curative properties.

N'goni (Kamele n'goni)

The name literally means "young person's harp". The Ngoni is a traditional instrument of West Africa, to be found in Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and Senegal. It is a harp-lute, looking very similar to the kora.

Tamani

The Tamani is a small double-headed drum from the Malinke ethnic group. Its slightly waisted body is carved out of a single piece of wood. The two antelope skin drum heads are tightened by lacing them to each other along the length of the drum.

Riti (Nyanyer)

The riti is a single-string fiddle of Senegal and Gambia. It is played to accompany praise singing and acrobatic dancing, usually together with several calabashes, which are used as percussion instruments.

Cajon

The cajon is a wooden box drum which is sat upon and struck with hands and fingers, like a drum.

Seckou Keita

Track Listing:

1. N'fa (Seckou Keita) - 5:15

2. Tounga (words Binta Susso, music: Seckou Keita) - 5:56

3. Afö (Seckou Keita) - 5:06

4. Djula Djékeré (trad., arr. Seckou Keita) - 5:49

5. Keita-lu (Seckou Keita) - 6:37

6. Ke Djulo (Seckou Keita) - 5:15

7. Sina Mory (Seckou Keita) - 6:34

8. Tama-silo (Journey) (Seckou Keita) - 5:32

9. N'fa Quartet (Seckou Keita) - 6:41

10. Namou (Seckou Keita) - 3:28