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Les Sofas de Bamako
(Mali)
Biography
Les Sofas de Bamako is a group of young Malian
musicians playing music of Malian inspiration, but on modern instruments. Different from other bands in Mali,
their music is coloured by jazz, blues and brass, whilst their way of singing is so typically Malian.
When Dutch saxophonist Dick de Graaf heard them playing during a jam session in Bamako, he was struck by the melodic intensity and their rhythmic feel, and the members of Les Sofas were impressed by his music as well. This resulted in the end in a collaboration, a recording session in Salif Keita's Wanda studio. As the recordings were co-financed by the Dutch Embassy in Bamako, SNV Mali, Shell Mali and the Afrika-Studiecentrum (ASC in Leiden, the Netherlands), the band was given the opportunity to tour in the Netherlands twice, in 2000 and in 2001. The album « Djigui » was the result of the project.
When Dutch saxophonist Dick de Graaf heard them playing during a jam session in Bamako, he was struck by the melodic intensity and their rhythmic feel, and the members of Les Sofas were impressed by his music as well. This resulted in the end in a collaboration, a recording session in Salif Keita's Wanda studio. As the recordings were co-financed by the Dutch Embassy in Bamako, SNV Mali, Shell Mali and the Afrika-Studiecentrum (ASC in Leiden, the Netherlands), the band was given the opportunity to tour in the Netherlands twice, in 2000 and in 2001. The album « Djigui » was the result of the project.
Album cover 'Djigui'
• Les Sofas de Bamako:
Moussa Marico flute
Mamadou Kouyaté lead vocal
Cheikou Tounkara keyboards
Djibril Camara bass, vocals
Alessane Kanouté solo guitar
Aliou Danté drums
Dramane Sissoko djembé
Guests:
Dick de Graaf tenor sax
Jasper Soffers keyboard solo on track 3 (Bariba)
Duncan Peltenburg guitar solo on track 5 (Soninké)
Formed: in Bamako, Mali
Style: bambara music / afro-jazz
Discography
Moussa Marico flute
Mamadou Kouyaté lead vocal
Cheikou Tounkara keyboards
Djibril Camara bass, vocals
Alessane Kanouté solo guitar
Aliou Danté drums
Dramane Sissoko djembé
Guests:
Dick de Graaf tenor sax
Jasper Soffers keyboard solo on track 3 (Bariba)
Duncan Peltenburg guitar solo on track 5 (Soninké)
Formed: in Bamako, Mali
Style: bambara music / afro-jazz
Discography
| Title | Year | Label | Remarks |
| Djigui | 1999 | Via Records 992088-2 | Feat. Dick de Graaf - sax tenor |
Sources
CD liner notes
CD liner notes
Page added April 2002