Ba Cissoko

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Ba Cissoko is a Guinean world music band, featuring four members, two of which are playing the traditional Kora harp. The other two band members play percussions and bass, respectively. The sound of the band has been described as "West Africa meets Jimi Hendrix".

[edit] Members

The band is named after the lead singer and electronical Kora player, Ba Cissoko, the nephew of the kora maestro M'Bady Kouyaté. Band members include Sekou Kouyaté also on kora, bass player Kourou Kouyaté, both Ba Cissoko's younger cousins. In addition, the band includes Ibrahima Bah on percussions.

Ba Cissoko: Lead vocal, kora, tamani

Sekou Kouyaté: Kora (acoustical and electrical), vocal

Kourou Kouyaté: Bass, bolon, vocal

Ibrahima Bah "Kounkouré": Calebasse, djembé, crin, congas

[edit] History

Ba Cissoko was created in 1999 with just three members. The last member is featured on the recent album release from 2006. The band toured the UK supporting aclaimed Nigerian musician Femi Kuti in 2007.

Sekou Kouyaté's can with his electronically enhanced Kora harp produce a sound somewhat similar to that of fast guitar tapping, partly helped by the nature of the instrument. The new sound has earned Sekou the nickname of "Jimi Hendrix Africain", due to Jimi Hendrix style riffs.

[edit] External links

• http://www.marabi.net/ba_cissoko/musi.htm - The official site for their first album, Sabolan, featuring a musical preview.
• http://www.ba-cissoko.com/ - official site.