Baba Sissoko
| Baba Sissoko | |
|---|---|
| Born |
1963 (age 52–53) Bamako, Mali |
| Occupation(s) | Instrumentalist, vocalist |
| Instruments | Tamani, ngoni, kamalengoni, bala, calabass |
| Website |
www |
Baba Sissoko (born 8 March 1963 in Bamako, Mali) is a musician (tamani, ngoni, kamalengoni, bala, calabass) and vocalist. Sissoko is a master of the talking drums (the tamani). He is also a jeli by birth.
Career
From childhood, he played tamani, often accompanying the traditional female griot during wedding and other traditional ceremonies.
In 1985, he toured internationally with the prestigious Instrumental Ensemble of Mali orchestra, playing the tamani and ngoni. In 1991, he founded his trio, Baba Sissoko & Taman Kan, and began extensively collaborating with top Malian artists and international musicians. His work with Habib Koité is notable as their collaboration lasted 12 years and was widely celebrated. In 1995, Baba Sissoko released his first album with Tama-Kan.
Baba Sissoko's Taman Kan bandmates are Roger Sabal Lecco (who has played bass with Manu Dibango, Miriam Makeba, Fela Kuti, Francis Bebey, Lucio Dalla, and Louisiana Red), and Reynaldo Hernandez (who has played percussion with the Conjunto Folklórico Nacional of Cuba and the Gipsy Kings). The trio celebrates their own cultures (Manding, Bambara people, Sonrai, Yoruba, and Kongo), and incorporates blues, jazz and rock elements as well.
To date, Baba Sissoko has recorded and released more than five albums. He also has taught traditional drum in Brussels, Belgium, and led conferences for the University of Calabria - Art, Music, and Spectacle Centre in Italy.
Selected discography
- Baba Sissoko & Taman Kan, “Taman Kan”,1995
- Baba Sissoko, “Djana”, 1999
- Baba Sissoko & Taman Kan, “Live in Studio”, 2000
- Baba Sissoko and Mario Artese, “Griots”, 2001
- Baba Sissoko, “Djeliya”, 2004
- Baba Sissoko, with Famondou Don Moye & Maurizio Capone, “Folk Bass Spirit Suite”, 2004
- Baba Sissoko Trio, “Bolokan”, 2005
- Baba Sissoko, “AfroJazz Live”, 2005
- Baba Sissoko & Taman Kan, “Mali Music”, 2005
- Baba Sissoko, “Djekafo”, 2006
- Baba Sissoko with Eloi Boudimont (Fanfare et Chouer), “Mali Mali”, 2007
- Baba Sissoko Jazz Ensemble, “Bamako Jazz”, 2007
- Baba Sissoko, “Bibisa Solo – moi je m’amuse”, 2008
- Baba Sissoko Aka Moon & Black Machine, “Culture Griot”, 2009
- Baba Sissoko e Il Pozzo Di San Patrizio, “The Eyes Over the World”, 2010
- Baba Sissoko Busch Werk & The Masters of Groove, “Trance”, 2011
- Baba Sissoko “Mali Tamani Revolution”, 2011
- Baba Sissoko, “Sahel”, 2011
- Baba Sissoko, Officina Zoé, “Taranta Nera” 2012
- Baba Sissoko Afroblues, “African Griot Groove”, 2012
- Baba Sissoko Djeli Mah Damba Koroba, “Baba et sa maman” 2013
- Baba Sissoko, Saulius Petreikis, Indre Jurgeleviciute, Laurita Peleniute, Viktoras Diawara, “MaLituanie”, 2013
- Baba Sissoko, "Tchi Wara", 2014
- Baba Sissoko with Antonello Salis & Famoudou Don Moye, "Jazz (R)Evolution" 2015
- Baba Sissoko, "Three Gees", 2015
Collaborations
Sissoko collaborated and recorded with the following:
- Youssou N'Dour
- Salif Keita
- Habib Koité
- Rokia Traoré
- Ibrahim Ferrer
- Buena Vista Social Club
- Ry Cooder
- Dee Dee Bridgewater
- Don Moye
- The Art Ensemble of Chicago
- Mamady Keita
- Kandia Kouyaté
- Amy Koïta
- Anga Diaz
- Cachaito Lopez
- Aka Moon
- DJ Brahms
- Djeli Mah Damba Koroba