- artist:Lamine Cissokho
- region:Stockholm
- release year:2019
- style(s):Afro Jazz
- country:Sweden
- formats:Audio File / Digital
- record posted by:Sewa Music
- label:Sewa Music
- publisher:Sewa Music
- buy this record
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ABOUT THE ALBUM
Lamine Cissokho releases this year his fourth album as a solo artist. SUNUJAZZ, ‘’our
jazz’’. Which jazz, you ask? The one from his native Sunugal, in Senegal. Sunu
meaning ‘’our’’ in wolof, a local language.
The artist wanted to record this album in the capital city of Dakar, in the recording
studio of Laye Diangne . Diangne is both bassit and arranger for Coumba Gawlo, as
well as a well-known producer.
Surrounded by two of his most loyal musicians, Ibou Calebasse (calabash) and Romi
Christian Bonaban (bass), Lamine specifically chose these african musicians as the
backbone of his album, in order to recreate a similar dynamic in the recording studio
as if playing live on stage .
Lamine invited to this musical dialogue the most accredited and renowned local
Peul flute player, Ousmane Ba, as well as saxophonist Alain Oyono.
The latter, from Cameroon, and saxophonist for Youssou Ndour, and has worked with
the greatest artists in the industry, such as Manu Dibango, Etienne Mbappe, Cesaria
Evora.
Lamine´s musical identity and uniqueness is his ability to create new chords on his
kora, leading him to diverse musical universes, and in this particular case, to jazz.
One of his notable inspirations is the late Soriba Kouyate, whom in his time, was able
to explore the infinite possibilities of the kora, and upgrade it from traditional to
modern musical instrument.
Consequently, four out of the seven tracks on this album will bring you into the
world of afro-jazz: Sunujazz, Modesty, Tilibo & Tubaka and Contre Vent.
Previously mentioned musicians such as Ibou Calebasse, Romi Bonaban, together
with Alain Oyono´s saxophonist, contributed to the making of this album, as well as
guitarist Tobias Grim and pianist Per-Olof Rylander.
The latter are two swedish musicians who brought in their personal touch to the
tracks. Their work and the final audio mix were completed in Sweden.
The tracks Sosolasso and L´amour bring us back to world music. Lamine sings these
tracks both in french and in the mandingo language (also known as mandinka),
featuring a choir of female vocalists Dougiouna Sissokho and Saga Björling.
The last track on the album is an arrangement based on the traditional ‘’Kaïra’’.
Lamine, wanting to enhance this feeling of peace, added his personal touch on a
musical accompaniment and on some traditional melodies. Fittingly, the title ‘’Kaïra’’
means peace in the mandingo language.
This particular track is a tribute to the late Solo Cissokho, who was great kora player
born in the same town as Lamine, and a great ‘’brother’’ griot, a west african
repository of oral tradition.
Music composed and arranged by Lamine Cissokho, with the exception of the tracks
Kaïra and Tubaka, which are traditional musical pieces arranged by Lamine.
Kora and Lead vocal: Lamine Cissokho
Bass: Romi Christian Bonaban
Calabash: Ibou Calebasse
Saxophone: Alain Oyono
Flute: Ousmane Ba
Guitar: Tobias Grim
Keyboard: Per-Olof Rylander
Back vocals : Diougouna Sissokho and Saga Björkling
Recorded at LSD Records, Dakar
Mixed and mastered by Dreamix Studios Sweden
Executive producer and Label: Sewa Music