SABARU by Sekou Kouyate

“Sabaru” is the first solo album by the Guinean Kora virtuoso, singer and composer, Sekou Kouyate, who invented the electrified kora at the age of 12 - and went on to pioneer the sound with fast riffs, experimental distortions and rock and reggae-influenced playing. Produced by multi-award winning label owner, Carolina Vallejo, this album went on to set a standard for One World Records future releases.

Kouyate's family band, Section Kora, impressed audiences and the press on their successful tours to Scandinavia and Mexico - and they recorded this album during visits to Copenhagen in 2014 and 2015, with the guest drummer, Francis Kweku Osei, from Ghana.

“Sabaru”, meaning patience, sums up Sekou´s musical history: rooted in his West African traditions and influenced by the contemporary blues, soul, funk and jazz, that had been his early inspirations. Sekou extracts multiple sound layers from his Kora - a rich instrument with endless possibilities for complex combinations of tones and polyrhythms
- and on which he performs with great individual expression. ‘Sabaru’ is full of funky bass lines, irresistible rhythms, soulful vocals… and most of all, mesmerising Kora playing… like silver pearls of sound falling from a sunlit sky.

An unpretentious album by a virtuoso who goes into the studio and effortlessly creates on the spot. Not in any way overproduced, the recordings are simply made to sound as if the listener is present in the room with the musicians. It’s an album that takes you on a joyous journey to Taouyah, Guinea Conakry, from the early days of Sekou´s Griot life
with his parrents, to the urban contemporary music scene of the world.

Sekou Kouyate has been called ‘West Africa’s equivalent to Jimi Hendrix’. His sound, mode of playing and the 'invention' of the electric Kora has inspired a whole new generation of kora players. He recorded with his father, M’Bady Kouyate, in 1997, and has since recorded and worked with Ba Cissoko, Blick Bassy, Roberto Fonseca, and rapper & beatboxer Joe Driscoll, as well as his own album. Today his little brother, who was his student, is considered one of the world’s best Kora players.

Tracklist

1.	Dela	5:43

2.	Dindinya	4:21

3.	Atongo	4:20

4.	Groove Kora	3:08

5.	Fouta	2:17

6.	Emourafama	2:49

7.	Nade	2:02

8.	Ska	3:12

9.	Desert	1:48

10.	Asuaira	3:56

11.	Dificil	3:53

12.	Mobeny	4:57

Credits

released July 31, 2015

Line Up: Sekou Kouyate, vocals, kora, electric kora, guitar, bass(*); Sefoudi Kouyate, kora; Mohamed Kalissa, kora; Bouba Kouyate, bass; Mohamed Kaba, drums, calabash; Facinet Sylla, djembe, congas; Francis Kweku Osei, drums(**), tama, udu, clave, congas (***); on “Atongo” : Gaddiel Amoah, bass; Carl Amoah, keys.

Recorded & Mastered by Richard Plougmann. Mixed by Carolina Vallejo & Richard Plougmann. Produced by Carolina Vallejo
Executive Producer Carolina Vallejo

©℗ One World Records 2015

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