"SABARU" made it straight to World Music Charts Europe Top 10 list in October!
Nominated for the Afrima Awards 2015
"SABARU" is Produced and released by One World
p r e s s r e l e a s e
AN ELEGANT MIX OF FUNKY JAZZ AND WEST AFRICAN MANDINGO TRADITIONS
“Sabaru” is the new album by the multi-award winning Guinean Kora virtuoso, singer and composer, Sekou Kouyate, who invented the electrified kora at the age of 12 - and went on to pioneer the sound with fast riffs, experimental distortions and rock and reggae-influenced playing. His family band, Section Kora, impressed audiences and the press on their recent successful tours Scandinavia and Mexico - and they recorded this album during visits to Copenhagen in 2014 and 2015. ‘Sabaru’ meaning patience in Susu, sums up Sekou´s musical history: rooted in his West African traditions and influenced by the contemporary blues, soul, funk and jazz, that had been his early inspirations. Sekou extracts multiple sound layers from his kora - a rich instrument with endless possibilities for complex combinations of tones and polyrhythms - and on which he performs with great individual expression.
‘Sabaru’ is full of funky bass lines, irresistible rhythms, soulful vocals…. and most of all, mesmerising Kora playing…. like silver pearls of sound falling from a sunlit sky. An unpretentious album by a virtuoso who goes into the studio and effortlessly creates music on the spot. Not in any way overproduced, the recordings are simply made to sound as if the listener is present in the room with the musicians. It’s an album that takes you on a joyous journey.
Sekou Kouyate has been called ‘West Africa’s equivalent to Jimi Hendrix’. His sound, mode of playing and the 'invention' of the electric Kora has inspired a whole new generation of kora players. He recorded with his father, M’Bady Kouyate, in 1997, and has since recorded and worked with Ba Cissoko, Blick Bassy, Roberto Fonseca, and rapper & beat boxer Joe Driscoll, as well as his own albums. Today he is considered one of the world’s best Kora players.
“Sekou is my master, I always tell him, but he denies it” - Toumani Diabate, Mali
“Sekou Kouyate is one of the best Kora player’s in the world - a musical genius” - Jacob Edgar, Cumbancha, USA
“Kouyate commands the Kora, coaxing from it’s strings an ethereal sound somewhere between a guitar carved
of crystal and a Rennaisance harpsichord. The man is a rare virtuoso” - Superjam, UK
“SEKOU KOUYATE ROCKS BIG TIME! Sekou Kouyate from Guinea Conakry must be a measureless virtuoso of the Kora”
Alexander Agrell, Sydsvenskan, Sweden
“Sekou Kouyate is one of the most amazing musicians in his generation from the African continent”
Kinobe Herbert, Uganda/ USA
SABARU
Sekou Kouyate Vocals Kora Electric Kora Guitar
Sefoudi Kouyate Kora
Mohamed Kalissa Kora
Bouba Kouyate Bass
Mohamed Kaba Drums Calabash
Facinet Sylla Djembe Congas
Francis Kweku Osei Tama Udu Clave Congas
* Sekou Kouyate Guitar Bass
** Francis Kweku Osei Drums
*** Gaddiel Amoah Bass
*** Carl Amoah Keys
**** Bouba Kouyate Backing Vocals
All music & texts ©by Sekou Kouyate
Recorded Mixed & Mastered by Richard Plougmann
Recorded at Juicyhalftone´s Studio A
Copenhagen Denmark 2014 & 2015
“Atongo” Recorded at Groove House Recording Studio
Accra Ghana by Francis Kweku Osei 2015
Photos & Artwork ©by Carolina Vallejo
Graphics by Justin Jones
Produced by Sekou Kouyate & Carolina Vallejo
Executive producer Carolina Vallejo One World
www.oneworldsmusic.com I www.sekoukouyate.com
01 DELA
02 DINDINYA *
03 ATONGO ** ***
04 GROOVE KORA *
05 FOUTA ** ****
06 EMOURAFAMA **
07 NADE
08 SKA ****
09 DESERT
06 ASUIRA *
11 DIFICIL * **
12 MOBENY
article posted by:Carolina Vallejo, One World