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  Dieourou Cissoko, alias Ali Boulo Santo is a korafoláA kora player is called korafolá (who is able to make
the kora talk) - korafolálu, plural., native from Senegal and he is my kora teacher.
As you listen to his records, you should appreciate his « crisp and bright kora touch » (http://www.allaboutjazz.com). Once partner of the diva
Hadja Kouyate, Ali is now runing in solo with his band called « Manding-Ko » ; like
Ba Cissoko and others new generation kora players, he adds a touch of modern through on reverberant, echoing wah-wah kora and plays Manding standards folksongs on it.
He is not yet 20 when he becomes the pioneer-inventer of the first kora with wah-wah
pedal, having at heart the enrichment of the repertoire of sounds and contemporary musical styles and at the same time preserving fundamental values.
« Born in Thiès, descendant of dozens of griota jèlí (plural, jèlílu) is a bard, loremaster, and praise-singer in the Manding areas whose
functions are story-telling, speaking about lineages, singing and playing music as he want and hear it... Read more. generations, his father Bakary Cissoko,griota jèlí (plural, jèlílu) is a bard, loremaster, and praise-singer in the Manding areas whose
functions are story-telling, speaking about lineages, singing and playing music as he want and hear it... Read more. himself and well-known, conductor of the National Police Force of
Dakar, initiated his son at a very early age to the kora in the most traditional form. This skilled artist, author and composer, passionately enthusiastic and
particularly talented, is soon recognised as the worthy successor of his grandfather Soundioulou CissokoBorn in 1921 in Ziguinchor in
Casamance, Kémokho Kandara Bamody Cissokho known as Soundioulou Cissokho is the son of the famous korafolá, Kimintang Cissokho alias Bah Djaly, jèlí of the king Abdou N'Diaye, and of Caroline Da
Silva... Read more. alias "King of Kora".
In 1992, he obtains a Diploma of the « Conservatoire National de Musique Traditionnelle » of Senegal. Endowed with a
personality and talent in a class of his own, he engages on an artistic course of his own choosing taking up the pseudonym of Ali Boulo Santo (which in Manding-Ko means stretched-out open hands)
which symbolises openness, peace, thankfulness and recognition, as per the essence of the themes contained in his work.
In 2000, Frédéric Galliano, impressed by the talent of the young musician, picks him for a project which places him on the
most well-known scenes of the planet, with « Orchestre Maquisard International » of which he is one of the leaders and the group « African Divas » ; he composes, sings
and plays with maestria, introducing the kora, this traditional West African instrument, into the most contemporary of musical environments. »
Listen to his great interpretation of Allah La
Ke« Alla La Ke » is one of the most famous songs of old Manding music tradition... Read more. or his very personal and original variations on SamakoroSamakoro is a traditional folksong from Guinea. Initially, Samakoro is the
name of a village (or many others) of Upper Guinea... Read more. musical theme entitled Dembo from ( Komo Felle).
In 2010, Ali is back with a new album solo, Hommage à Bakary.
« In total discretion, this unsatiable artist consolidates this crossing between Africa and the West, optimises the duality that he represents, the junction between Cultures and the
different forms of Music, humanely, with sincerity and respect, remaining this way faithful to his identity. »
source : D. Labanère-Barthélemy (translation by Leslie G. Dryvers)
At the end of 2016, Ali Dieourou Cissoko is back in acoustics, with a great and deep album as a spring water.
.jpg "Kora Masterclass - Caen - Nov 2011") Yes, I must admit, I'm quite in a nostalgic mood introducing this disc, remembering those great hours when, with infinite patience, our teacher offered us some of his secrets of the kora.
When a listen to that record, I remember some of those great Manding classics like Bamba Bodian This song (Bamba Bodian) was composed in honour of Alhaji Bamba Bodian or Ledjè, a wealthy merchant of the XIX century... Read more., Allahnohlè (Alanoule), Mamadou BitikiMamadou Bitiki is the nick-name that jelis gave to a rich merchant from Guinea... Read more. (Nunto), Foday KabaFoday Kaba is a panegyric song is devoted to Kaba Doumbouya (1818-1901), a diakhanke marabout... Read more. , Macky, Sutukun ; such great tunes we practiced among great fellows compadres, so many times ... Such great memories !
A page has been turned, but experience and shared passion will be still there, deep in our hearts.
More than an improvement in the art of kora, it was an art of teaching, a great method purposed to transmit a great legacy ("Nunto ") ; that was the main thing I learned from Master Cissoko.
And such a thing, I mean : communicating good music, a passion to transmit a spiritual legacy, indeed that is a priceless treasure.
My students and my relatives we all of us are collecting those spiritual fruits.
In compagny of Dieourou, everything is clear from the beginning ; and that is the great value, the deep sense of his message in Nunto, record among "10 African albums to listen" (inRocks).
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