- country:France
- label:Buda Musique
- type:Band, Solo, Small Ensemble
- gender:male
- instrumentation:pop group, dance orchestra, unplugged
- artist posted by:Manding Grooves
Line up
- Seydou "Kanazoe" Diabate (Balafon)
Links
Seydou "Kanazoe" Diabate is a West African griot who grew up learning to play the balafon. He plays both Pentatonic and Diatonic balafon. He is very well versed in the traditional styles of Sosso (Manding) music and his Burkinabe-based pentatonic style from the village of Tolonso, the Sambla people. Kanazoe has done something new with the traditional balafon. he hasn't added to the keys, as other balafonists do. HE has adopted a new style of playing the balafon that allows the balafon to sustain a note in staccato. this provides a jazzy-style feel that lends itself to playing with horn instruments, and indeed, his band does incorporate a horns section.
Kanazoé also gives balafon workshops in France. He has a calm and gentle demeanor which belies his musical genius. This artists has successfully created a Manding Groove that appeals to Europeans without compromising the value of the balafon music of the Manding people.