MALI
DENGO
SOUNGALO COULIBALY
A master
drummer of international renown, rightly considered as one of the greatest
djembé players of the day, Soungalo is one of those inspired artists
for whom tradition is constantly on the move. Always surrounded by the
finest accompanists, he is boldly innovative, bringing together the instruments
of the various traditional repertoires of his native country, Mali, and
reminding us of the obvious kinship that exists between that music and
jazz and blues. Aware of the need for definition, Soungalo and his musicians
invented “Flez Music”, an inimitable blend of balafon, acoustic
guitar, n'goni and Manding percussion instruments, plus the exceptional
voice of the Malian singer Mariam Diakité. Flez Music is based
essentially on the following elements:
- The various traditional repertoires of Mali: Bambara, Malinke and Peul
music, wasolonka, popular songs and songs of the griots, and the music
and rhythms of celebration. All these various genres are crossed, combined
and rearranged: the result of this alchemy is most original.
- An opening to Jazz: the same musical structure, the same freedom in
the choruses, the same pursuit, yet calling into question, of all the
repertoire's rhythmic and harmonic attainments.
- Rich use of polyrhythm: a complex and constantly changing interweaving
of the various lines: djembé, balafons, other bass drums.
- The importance of the dance as a constant source of inspiration: most
of the rhythms are dance rhythms; dancing makes Soungalo's concerts complete,
with a wealth of movement as well as of sound.
Furthermore, each of the artists adds his own personality and personal
touch: the voice of Mariam Diakité, the extraordinary virtuosity
of the balafonist Siaka Diabaté, the spirit and grace of the dancer
Anne-France Brunet, the instrumental versatility of Vincent Zanetti, the
reassuring tranquillity of the percussionists' accompaniment, and, of
course, the strength, power and constantly amazing imagination of Soungalo
Coulibaly.
ARTISTES : Soungalo Coulibaly (Jembe) - Anne-France Brunet (Jabara, ji dunum - tambours d'eau, karinian) - Siaka Diabate (Balafon senufon solo, jeli balani, dunum) - Mariam Diakite (Chant, jabara, kenkeni) - Gilles Gfeller (Dunum) - Yakouba Sanou (Dunum, balafon senufo) - Vincent Zanetti (Guitare, Kamele n'goni, jembe, tamani).
Other Artists : Ensemble Kaboul, Ensemble Aznach , Lucy Acevedo, Xhemali Berisha, Junko Ueda, Nelson Rojas, José de la Negreta, Parvathy Baul, Marina Pittau. NEWS : Prem Kishor, Maciré Sylla
Other Discs : Nastaran, Zoura, Négra, Hapi Syté, Satsuma-Biwa, Bulenga, Sueno Gitano, Radha Bhava, Raighinas
New release : Varanasie Ras, Sarefi