FULANI FLUTES AND HIGH GRIOT MANDE MUSIC
FULA FLUTE ENSEMBLE PERFORMS AT THE
ACOUSTIC AFRICAN MUSIC SERIES, CORNELIA STREET CAFÉ, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2003

"Forget Mozart and Freemasons, Fula Flute is the real magic flute…
absolutely transe-like, hypnotic." —fRoots Magazine, March 2003

Where's the 1? Productions presents New York City-based Fula Flute Ensemble, performing Fulani flute-driven jeli (griot) music of Mali and Guinea, Saturday, November 8th at the New York City Acoustic African Music Series. Founded and led by French-Canadian artist Sylvain Leroux, the Fula Flute Ensemble captures the poetry and sophistication of Fulani flute and jeli music from the traditional Mande Empire, integrating it with French-Canadian and American influences. Original compositions by Leroux flow seamlessly together with repertory of classic jeli pieces. The Fula Flute Ensemble has received critical acclaim for their debut album, Fula Flute, produced by
Leroux and released in 2002 on Blue Monster Records. They have played to numerous sold-out houses from Lincoln Center to Symphony Space and Zankel Hall. For this November 8th performance, the Fula Flute Ensemble will feature songs from their CD, as well as premiering new compositions.

At the heart of the Fula Flute Ensemble’s unique sound is the little-known tambin, the flute of the Fulani people (also called Peulh) of Guinea. This tambin is specific to the Fouta Djallon highlands of Guinea, an area dominated by Peulh culture. Colorfully adorned, the tambin produces a sound that is at once haunting and exhilarating. It is noted for its characteristic voice/flute effects, its multi-phonics, and its relationship to musical language through storytelling.

Rarely is the tambin so eloquent as in the hands of Fula Flute front man, Bailo Bah. Widely considered one of the foremost players of the tambin, Bah learned the instrument from his grandfather before leaving his village at the age of 15 to start a professional career in the city of Dakar. There he began learning jeli repertoire, hence the unique combination of the flute-led jeli music of Fula Flute. He was the flautist for the Ballets Koteba for 22 years and toured with the famous show Africa Oye. Bah’s solo style is both fierce and subtle, combining flute and vocalizations in a manner reminiscent of jazz great Rashaan Roland Kirk. Leroux, a long-time student of Bah’s, performs opposite his teacher, their intricate duets creating graceful layers of counterpoint and exchange.

Beneath these layers lie the relentless musical foundation of Mande jelis. Born into a hereditary musicians’ lineage, jelis are storytellers, genealogists, historians, and political and social advisors. They command great respect, and their art is highly refined. They are, to this day, counselors of kings and heads-of-state. The jeli core of Fula Flute is comprised of members of some of the most respected lineages of all time, each member also having achieved remarkable renown in his own right.

Famoro Dioubate plays balafon (West African marimba) and is the grandson and musical heir of El Hadj Djelli Sory Kouyate, a living legend of the Mande balafon. As understudy to his grandfather within the Ensemble Instrumental National, he has performed often for the President of Guinea and visiting dignitaries. He is Mory Kante's favorite balafonist who chose him to perform in his Traditional Symphonie. Yacouba Sissoko, a master musician of the kora, the 21-string Mande harp, was born in Kita, Mali, and studied music at Institut National des Arts du Mali in Bamako. He toured the world with the Gos de Koteba. This is his second appearance at the Acoustic African Music Series. Lead singer Abdoulaye Diabaté was the founder and leader of the famous 12-piece band Super Mande, which has included some of West Africa’s biggest superstars, such as Salif Keita, Mory Kante, Kante Manfila, and Ousmane Kouyate. Rounding out the rhythm section and adding the unmistakable jazz element is American bassist Peter Fand.

Where’s the 1? Productions is dedicated to the promotion of African music in New York City and produces the Acoustic African Music Series to advance traditional music and its contemporary incarnations. All concerts are held at the Cornelia Street Café, 29 Cornelia Street, between Bleeker and West 4th at the A,C,E,F,V West 4th subway stop or the 1,9 Christopher Street stop. Performance times are 8:30 PM and 10:30 PM. Tickets cost $12 per show plus a one-drink minimum. Doors open 15 minutes prior to show times. Please call 212-989-9319 for ticket reservations. For more information, please visit www.wheresthe1.com.

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