Version EN: Malian djembe and balaphon phenom Bassidi Koné will release his first solo album Kaïra (Happiness) on Remote Records on January 20th, 2022.
The first single An ka Ben, which means 'Let's Make Peace' in Bamanankan, one of Mali’s many languages, is a call for peace and unity in the world. “Without peace, we can’t do anything, and there’s a lot that needs to get done,” said Koné.
An Kan Ben is an explosive fusion of Malian Manding and Cuban Son music, an amalgam that dates back centuries, and was codified with musical exchanges initiated by Mali’s first President Modibo Keita and Fidel Castro in the 1960s.
Featuring the voices of Namian Sidibé and Vito Calia, band leader Bassidi Koné deftly pilots An Kan Ben, playing his djembé at supersonic speed and with stunning precision and musicality. Flanked by his lifelong musical collaborator Kalifa Koné on balafon, the horns of Australian Will Larson, and a red hot rhythm section composed of Mali’s top Afro-Jazz players including Sekou Bah on bass, An Ka Ben is a skillful and resolute call for action that will make you believe peace is possible.
Kaira is a cry from the heart to find universal peace, and his first solo album following three releases with his family band Bwazan (Bwa children), whose mission is to perpetuate, and innovate the original songs of their Bwa ethnicity.
Bassidi’s home team provides a tightly arranged and expertly executed foundation for the album, but on Kaira, Bassidi reaches out to his extended family of Africa’s finest singers and musicians, demonstrating his ostensibly infinite artistic range. This influential list includes n’goni legend Bassekou Kouyaté and niece Kankou Kouyaté who team up on the cool, pensive Toukarangue, sage & master of the kora, Mamadou Diabaté and his eminently popular wife Safi Diabaté on the title track Kaïra, the doyen of the sumu guitar, Modibo ‘Gauche’ Diabaté on Bajuru which also features Safi, djembe icon Petit Adama Diarra plays on Kaira and Bajuru, and an array of-up-and-coming stars like Namian Sidibé who are sure to keep Mali at the top of the music charts for generations to come.
Kaïra, episodically retraces the challenges Bassidi has had to overcome to arrive at the top of his class today, and it is also a cry from the heart to find universal peace in a world that is plagued by conflicts, drought, famine and other natural disasters linked to climate change.
Bassidi knows the formula for overcoming obstacles, and the strength and courage that emanate from the music on Kaïra is guaranteed to lift you up.
Version FR: Le phénomène des djembes et des balaphons maliens, Bassidi Koné, sortira son premier album solo Kaïra (Bonheur) chez Remote Records le 20 janvier 2022.
Le premier single, An ka Ben, qui signifie "Faisons la paix" en bamanankan, l'une des nombreuses langues du Mali, est un appel à la paix et à l'unité dans le monde. "Sans paix, nous ne pouvons rien faire, et il y a beaucoup à faire", a déclaré Koné.
An Kan Ben est une fusion explosive de la musique mandingue malienne et de la musique cubaine son, une amalgamation qui remonte à des siècles et qui a été codifiée avec des échanges musicaux initiés par le premier président malien Modibo Keita et Fidel Castro dans les années 1960.
Avec les voix de Namian Sidibé et Vito Calia, le leader de groupe Bassidi Koné pilote habilement An Kan Ben, jouant de son djembé à vitesse supersonique et avec une précision et une musicalité époustouflantes. Entouré de son collaborateur musical de toujours Kalifa Koné sur le balafon, les cuivres de Will Larson d'Australie et une section rythmique en feu composée des meilleurs joueurs d'Afro-Jazz du Mali, dont Sekou Bah à la basse, An Ka Ben est un appel déterminé à l'action qui vous fera croire que la paix est possible.
Kaïra est un cri du cœur pour trouver la paix universelle, et son premier album solo après trois sorties avec son groupe familial Bwazan (Les enfants Bwa), dont la mission est de perpétuer et d'innover les chansons originales de leur ethnie Bwa.
L'équipe de Bassidi à la maison fournit une base solidement arrangée et habilement exécutée pour l'album, mais sur Kaira, Bassidi s'ouvre à sa famille élargie des meilleurs chanteurs et musiciens d'Afrique, démontrant sa plage artistique apparemment infinie. Cette liste influente comprend la légende du n'goni Bassekou Kouyaté et sa nièce Kankou Kouyaté qui s'associent sur le calme et réfléchi Toukarangue, le sage et maître de la kora, Mamadou Diabaté et sa femme très populaire Safi Diabaté sur la chanson titre Kaïra, le doyen de la guitare sumu, Modibo "Gauche" Diabaté sur Bajuru qui comprend également Safi, l'icône du djembe Petit Adama Diarra joue sur Kaira et Bajuru, et une variété d'étoiles montantes comme Namian Sidibé qui sont sûres de maintenir le Mali en tête des classements musicaux.
Bassidi Koné, of Bwa ethnicity, was born into a griot family in the San region of central Mali. His first memories are of
his father's primary instrument, the balafon, which instilled in him his forefathers' traditional village songs and rhythms passed down through generations. Since these early childhood experiences, Bassidi has carried on this rich musical legacy with the greatest of respect...more
Awesome Mali music with stunning vocals from Rokia Kouyate and Mahamdou Sidibe. Jazz edge to the brass but nicely restrained.
How to pick a favourite track?
Muso, with its skipping Mande zouk beat and Rokia's beautiful vocal.
Baga Kanjo, the slowly unveiling first track with n'goni, Rokia leading then switching to Mahamadou.
Diarabi, has the most perfect balance of n'goni, acoustic guitar, percussion, brass and vocals.
You really have to get this one! tonypi
Nahawa Doumbia has a beautiful voice that fits perfectly with the arrangements accompanying her on these songs. What is there not to love in this album? It's all beauty. Thibaut Devigne
Jubilant highlife from the excellent Music in Exile label, with skipping melody lines and percussion that bubbles and pops. Bandcamp New & Notable Dec 6, 2020
The London ensemble blends traditional musical styles and folklore of West Africa's Mandé people and contemporary jazz. Bandcamp New & Notable Aug 6, 2021