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Seckou Keita
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At the same time Seckou was developing his work on Kora with support slots to luminaries like Salif Keita and Youssou N'Dour, solo slots at London's Jazz Café and at Ireland's Sacred Music Festival, and a nomination in 2001 for BBC Radio 3's prestigious World Music Award, it's clear that Keita's many collaborations have fed and extended rather than diluted the African mainspring of his music. In 2003 and 2004,he concentrated on working on the family project in a band called Jalikunda Cissokho, for which he produced and album. But since 2004, his work has really taken new dimension with the creation of the Seckou Keita Quartet. Hailing from Senegal, Italy, Egypt and The Gambia, this multi-national band are an exciting fusion of culture and experience. Counting Richard Bona, Bela Fleck and Bobby McFerrin amongst his influences, Seckou Keita leads the quartet with his experimental tunings and virtuoso kora playing (a West African stringed instrument likened to the harp or the lute). His charismatic personality is portrayed through his unique improvisational playing, supported by the double bass/electric bass of Davide Mantovani, the eclectic percussions of Surahata Susso, the distinguished sound of the violin by Samy Bishai and enchanting voice of the gracious Binta Susso - the newest addition to the band, turning the quartet into a quintet! With a massively successful touring history and critically acclaimed album under their belt, Seckou is just about to release his new album " the Silimbo passage", out in June 2008. |
A brilliant performer, Seckou also likes to share with people. His education work is less known to the public but is real. Seckou regularly works with a range of people and organisations ranging from school to festivals and professional drumming troup such as Tanante. More info can be found on his website Contact us at |