- artist:Aly Keïta
- featured artist:ALY KEÏTA
- release year:2026
- country:Ivory Coast
- formats:Audio File / Digital, CD (Compact Disc), LP / Vinyl
- record posted by:One World
- label:One World
- publisher:One World
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ALY KEÏTA TRIO ‘BALAFON EVOLUTION’
The Ivorian balafon virtuoso Aly Keïta explores new horizons for his
instrument in improvised music. Together with his Berlin-based trio, he conquers the peaks of balafon possibilities one by one, wandering between groovy African rhythms, spectacular polyphony and elements of jazz, and combining them into a fusion that is both futuristic and deeply in roots. In Balafon Evolution, Keïta establishes a new level of balafon artistry, creating universal, contemporary soundscapes that transcend cultural boundaries. The Aly Keïta Trio embodies the pulsating spirit of the Berlin jazz scene. Coming from different cultural backgrounds, the three musicians found a common language on stage as they explored the metropole, one of the most active, buzzing jazz hubs of Europe. Aly Keïta and the Dutch drummer Marcel van Cleef, began playing together in 2008, forming the core of the trio's future "groove machine". As a part of the "Aly Keïta and Magic Balafon" formation, they shared a prize of the Global music contest "Creole" in 2009. Recognised as one of the most intriguing and innovative bass players among the new generation, the Italian bass player Roberto Badoglio, joined trio in 2014, becoming a true "fusion reactor" of the band.
Aly Keïta was born in Abidjan and inherited balafon art from his father, who was a Mandingo Griot. After moving to his grandmother’s village in Mali, together with his younger brother, he continued learning their family tradition, building and playing balafons. In the age on 18 Keïta’s virtuosity has became famous far beyond Africa and the young musician started touring around the world, mastering a new for him music language - jazz - and performing with some of the best artists of our time. Following the footsteps of maestro Kélétiguy Diabaté, Aly became the first who made this instrument chromatic and the one who first brought balafon, usually accompanying percussive instrument, to the front of the stage as a soloist. His acoustic, technic and visual innovations became standard for younger generations of balafonists.
MUSIC AND LYRICS ©by Aly Keïta. ARRANGEMENTS Aly Keïta. *(Except “Adjame Street”, “Mandingo Galaxy”, “Balafon Evolution” ©by Aly Keïta Trio). LINE UP Aly Keïta (Balafons, Kalimba, Vocal), Marcel van Cleef (Drums, percussions), Roberto Badoglio (E-Bass). Special guest: Mariam Koné* (Vocals).
RECORDED at GREVE STUDIO and NAGELSTUDIO* Berlin, Germany. RECORDING ENGINEERS Volker Greve ,Johann Niegl*. PRE-MIXED by Marcel van Cleef. MIXED by Daniel Boivin.
TITLES 01. Adjame Street 06:28, 02. Marie Dance 05:32, 03. Yélé Kura 06:18, 04. Mandingo Galaxy 06:49, 05. Mogo-Sobé (*) 02:52, 06. Farafinko 07:22, 07. Balafon Evolution 04:50, 08. Dreams of Mikaël 02:33, 09. Peace in the World 04:41. TOTAL PLAYTIME 47:00
PRODUCED by Aly Keïta, Carolina Vallejo & Olha Kovalevska.
ARTWORK & PHOTOS Olha Kovalevska, Urban Lys. SUPPORT Initiative Musik.
EDITION & POST PRODUCTION Carolina Vallejo.
MASTERED by Tom Leader.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS Carolina Vallejo & Olha Kovalevska.
©℗ One World Records 2026