Baba Sissoko
Projects
“Baba Sissoko one man band”
“Baba Sissoko & The Malian Tamani Revolution”
“Baba Sissoko & Il Pozzo di San Patrizio”
“Baba Sissoko & Taman Kan”
“Baba Sissoko Djekafo”
“Baba Sissoko trio”
“Baba Sissoko duo”
“Black Machine”
Born in Bamako (Mali), Baba Sissoko is the undisputed master of tamani (the
original talking drum), that he started to play since he was a child (thanks to the
teaching of his grand-father Djeli Baba Sissoko) and from which he is able to extract
all the notes simply with a one, natural movement.
Baba Sissoko plays also ngoni, kamalengoni, guitar, balaphon, calebasse, sildrum
and… he sings!
He is from a great and ancient dynasty of griots from Mali: in the Malian tradition,
griots are deputed to calm down hearts and souls, by means of music. Baba
Sissoko has been the first one to introduce the sound of tamani in the modern music
of Mali.
In the Baba compositions there is a great influence of Amadran, that is a repetitive
and hypnotic musical structure typical from Mali by which, according to many
researchers, blues was born
His style is peculiar: Baba loves to integrate melodies and rhythms of the Malian
tradition (Bambara, Peul, Mandig e Sonrai) with the typical sounds of jazz and
blues, creating fantastic musical effects. This also thanks to the numerous
experiences with other musicians belonging to cultures and roots completely different
from his background. His ability to play a wide range of musical instruments and his
extreme sensitivity to other musical genders and expressions, brought him to
cooperate with many fine musicians. Among others, he worked and cooperated
with Habib Koite, Rokia Traore, Ibrahim Ferrer, Buena Vista Social Club, Don Moye
and Art Ensemble of Chicago, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Enzo Avitabile; Miguel Anga
Diaz, Omar Sosa, Chris Joris, Bob Stuwart, Aka Moon.
In the 2010 he come out with its 10th new album “The Eyes Over the World”
together with the Italian folk band “Il Pozzo di San Patrizio”.
At present, Baba is in tour with Eyes Over the World project, The Malian Tamani
revolution, Aka Moon and Black Machine, being busy also promoting his albums
“Culture Griot”, “Djekafo” and “The Eyes Over the World”.
He is also working with “Afrocubism” the World Circuit new project, together with
Cuban and Malian Stars like Bassekou Kouyate, Toumani Diabate, Eliade Ochoa,
Kasse Mady Diabate, Djelimady Tounghara and many others.
Discography
Baba Sissoko & Taman Kan, “Taman Kan”,1995
Baba Sissoko, “Djana”, 1999
Baba Sissoko & Taman Kan, “Live in Studio”, 2000
Baba Sissoko, “Djeliya”, 2004
Baba Sissoko, with Famondou Don Moye & Maurizio Capone, “Folk Bass Spirit
Suite”, 2004
Baba Sissoko Trio, “Bolokan”, 2005
Baba Sissoko, “Djekafo”, 2006
Baba Sissoko with Eloi Boudimont (Fanfare et Couer), “Mali Mali”, 2007
Baba Sissoko Jazz Ensemble, “Bamako Jazz”, 2007
Baba Sissoko Aka Moon & Black Machine, “Culture Griot”, 2009
Baba Sissoko e Il Pozzo Di San Patrizio, “The Eyes Over the World”, 2010
Collaborations (as singer and special guest)
Famoudou Don Moye, “Bamako Chicago Express”, 2002, special guest Baba
Sissoko
Art Ensemble of Chicago, “Reunion”, 2004, special guest Baba Sissoko
Maak’s Spirit & Gnawa Ensemble, “Al Majmàa”, 2004, special guest Baba
Sissoko
Enzo Avitabile & Bottari, “Tarantella Bruna”, feat. Baba Sissoko, in “Salvamm’o
munno”, 2004
Mamady Keita & Sewa Kan, “Live At Couleur Cafe”, 2005, special guest Baba
Sissoko
Miguel Anga Diaz, “Tume Tume”, feat. Baba Sissoko, in “Echu Mingua”, 2005
Chris Joris & Bob Stewart, “Rainbow Country”, 2006, special guest Baba Sissoko
Dee Dee Bridgewater, “Dee Dee”, faet. Baba Sissoko and Mamani Keita, in “Red
Earth”, 2006
Eloi Bodimont & Fanfare de Moncourt, “Mali Mali”, special guest Baba Sissoko,
2007
Omar Sosa, "Why Anga", feat Baba Sissoko and Omar Sosa in "Afreecanos",
2008
Afrocubism, “Dakan”, feat Baba Sissoko in “Afrocubism”, 2010
Collaborations (as musician)
Ami Koita, “Songs of praise”, 1993
Habib Koite & Bamada, “Muso ko”, 1995
Lokua Kanza, “3”, 1998
Boubacar Kar Kar Traorè, “Macirè”, 1998
Habib Koite & Bamada, “Maya”, 1998
Lokua Kanza, ”Lokua Kanza 3”, 1998
Rokia Traore, “Mouneissa”, 1998
Rokia Traore, “Bowboi”, 2003
Miguel Anga Diaz, “Echu Mingua”, 2005
Dee Dee Bridgewater, “Red Earth”, 2006
Cheick Tidiane Seck, "Sabaly", 2008
Stephane
Huchard,
"African
Tribute
Kasse
Mady
Diabate,
"Mande
Bassekou Kouyate, "I Speak Fula", 2009
to
Art
Djeli
Blakey",
Kan",
2008
2009
Compilations (containing Baba Sissoko compositions)
Abruzzo Sound “Vol 2”, 2003, containing “Djarabi” and “Djana”
Universound, “2K1”, 2003, containing “Sumale”
Mother Africa, “Adam and Eve”, 2003, containing “Moko”
“Tiankoura”, 2004, containing Djarabi and Se soir à Bankoni (Sissoko – Moye)
"I Viaggi Perduti", 2007, containing "Sidjanko"
« Ethnos per le scuole », 2010, containing « Ebi »
musicdivision@bagsentertainment.com
July 2012