Ablaye Cissoko

Ablaye Cissoko
Ablaye Cissoko at the 2012 Seminci
Background information
Born	1970 Kolda, Senegal
Genres	World music, world fusion jazz
Occupation(s)	Musician, singer, composer
Instrument	Kora
Years active	1982-present
Website	ablaye-cissoko.com

Ablaye Cissoko is a Senegalese musician, singer and composer, who plays the kora.

His show is called "Le Griot Rouge" (named after his second album) sounds about the legend of the man who has created the kora. During this performance, Ablaye Cissoko transmits with smoothness, grace and intelligence the values of a generous tradition and sings with sincerity the peace and the respect of the other. He usually plays all around the world. His tours passed through Portugal, France, Belgium, Senegal, Mali, Canada, Germany, Norway, Russia.

He collaborated with trumpeter Volker Goetze and they released three albums as a duo, Sira in 2008, Amanké Dionti in 2012 and Djaliya in 2014. Sira entered the top 10 world music radio chart on CMJ in January 2009.

A feature-length documentary follows Cissoko, who is determined to preserve his thousand-year-old tradition. In the documentary Cissoko has a dream to have a thriving cultural center where children can come to learn the traditions of their forefathers.

Discography

Albums

Solo

• 2003: Diam' [Ma Case Records / L'autre distribution]
• 2005: Le Griot Rouge [Ma Case Records / L'autre distribution]
• 2013: Mes Racines

with Volker Goetze

• 2008: Sira [ObliqSound]
• 2012: Amanké Dionti [Motema]
• 2014: Djaliya

with Majid Bekkas

• 2011: Mabrouk [Bee Jazz]

with Simon Goubert

• 2012: African Jazz Roots [Cristal Records]

External links

• Official website of The Griot