Djeli Moussa Diawara
Encyclopedia
Djeli Moussa Diawara, [born 1962 in Kankan
, Guinea
] is a Kora
player (Korafola), a composer, and singer.
player, and his mother a singer. His half-brother, sharing the same mother, is Mory Kanté
.
He became a « jali » or « djeli », mandingo word for Griot
. He learned to play the balafon
, the kora
and the guitar.
At 18 he played with his half-brother, who led the legendary Rail Band
, in Abidjan
, Côte d'Ivoire
. Starting his solo career, he worked with Djenne Doumbia, a great singer who later joined Salif Keita
's group.
In 1983, his first LP Yasimika
was recorded. It is still considered a great piece of African music today.
Then, he left for Paris.
His Flamenkora album was published in 1998, offering a rich blend of styles, from his Mandingo roots to Flamenco
.
In 2000, Djeli Moussa recorded "Ocean Blues - from Africa to Hawaï" with Bob Brozman
, which received good reviews.
Since then, he founded Kora Jazz Trio, joined by Abdoulaye Diabaté
(piano) and Moussa Cissoko (drums). Djeli Moussa composed of most of the tracks, particularly those on which he sings, and he played the Kora and sometimes the guitar on the 3 albums released so far (Part I, II, & III).
Singer and musician, Djeli Moussa developed a very intimate relationship with his 32-stringed Kora
, which is unique and was adapted at his request from the 21-stringed traditional Kora. He is able to adapt to many different rhythms, from traditional Mandingo to Salsa, Flamenco, Blues and Jazz.
He has worked with many internationally acclaimed artists, including Ali Farka Touré
, Carlos Santana
, Manu Dibango
, Janice deRosa, Stephan Eicher
, Cheick Tidiane Seck
...
With Kora Jazz Trio
Miscellaneous
Kankan
Kankan is the largest city in Guinea in land area, and the third largest in population at 207,790 . The city is located on the Milo River in eastern Guinea and lying about 345 miles east of Conakry....
, Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
] is a Kora
Kora (instrument)
The kora is a 21-string bridge-harp used extensively in West Africa.-Description:A kora is built from a large calabash cut in half and covered with cow skin to make a resonator, and has a notched bridge. It does not fit well into any one category of western instruments and would have to be...
player (Korafola), a composer, and singer.
Short Biography
Djeli Moussa Diawara (also known as Jali Musa Jawara) was born to a family of the Griot tribe. His father was a balafonBalafon
The balafon is a resonated frame, wooden keyed percussion idiophone of West Africa; part of the idiophone family of tuned percussion instruments that includes the xylophone, marimba, glockenspiel, and the vibraphone...
player, and his mother a singer. His half-brother, sharing the same mother, is Mory Kanté
Mory Kanté
Mory Kanté is a vocalist and player of the kora harp. He was born into one of Guinea's best known families of griot musicians...
.
He became a « jali » or « djeli », mandingo word for Griot
Griot
A griot or jeli is a West African storyteller. The griot delivers history as a poet, praise singer, and wandering musician. The griot is a repository of oral tradition. As such, they are sometimes also called bards...
. He learned to play the balafon
Balafon
The balafon is a resonated frame, wooden keyed percussion idiophone of West Africa; part of the idiophone family of tuned percussion instruments that includes the xylophone, marimba, glockenspiel, and the vibraphone...
, the kora
Kora (instrument)
The kora is a 21-string bridge-harp used extensively in West Africa.-Description:A kora is built from a large calabash cut in half and covered with cow skin to make a resonator, and has a notched bridge. It does not fit well into any one category of western instruments and would have to be...
and the guitar.
At 18 he played with his half-brother, who led the legendary Rail Band
Rail Band
The Rail Band, formed in 1970, is one of the most popular groups in the history of Malian music; it was later known as Super Rail Band, Bamako Rail Band or, most comprehensively and formally, Super Rail Band of the Buffet Hotel de la Gare, Bamako...
, in Abidjan
Abidjan
Abidjan is the economic and former official capital of Côte d'Ivoire, while the current capital is Yamoussoukro. it was the largest city in the nation and the third-largest French-speaking city in the world, after Paris, and Kinshasa but before Montreal...
, Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire
The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
. Starting his solo career, he worked with Djenne Doumbia, a great singer who later joined Salif Keita
Salif Keita
Salif Keïta is an internationally recognized afro-pop singer-songwriter from Mali. He is unique not only because of his reputation as the Golden Voice of Africa, but because he has albinism and is a direct descendant of the founder of the Mali Empire, Sundiata Keita...
's group.
In 1983, his first LP Yasimika
Yasimika
Yasimika is the first studio album by Djeli Moussa Diawara , Guinean Kora player , released in 1983.-Background:Djeli Moussa Diawara recorded his first LP, now known as Yasimika, in Abidjan in 1982...
was recorded. It is still considered a great piece of African music today.
Then, he left for Paris.
His Flamenkora album was published in 1998, offering a rich blend of styles, from his Mandingo roots to Flamenco
Flamenco
Flamenco is a genre of music and dance which has its foundation in Andalusian music and dance and in whose evolution Andalusian Gypsies played an important part....
.
In 2000, Djeli Moussa recorded "Ocean Blues - from Africa to Hawaï" with Bob Brozman
Bob Brozman
Bob Brozman is an American guitarist and ethnomusicologist.He has performed in a number of styles such as Gypsy jazz, calypso, Blues, ragtime, Hawaiian and Caribbean music. Brozman has also collaborated with musicians from diverse cultural backgrounds such as India, Africa, Japan, Papua New Guinea...
, which received good reviews.
Since then, he founded Kora Jazz Trio, joined by Abdoulaye Diabaté
Abdoulaye Diabaté
Abdoulaye Diabaté is a singer and guitarist who was born to Griot family in Kela, Mali in 1956. He has at least twenty years of experience in contemporary and popular music.-Life:...
(piano) and Moussa Cissoko (drums). Djeli Moussa composed of most of the tracks, particularly those on which he sings, and he played the Kora and sometimes the guitar on the 3 albums released so far (Part I, II, & III).
Singer and musician, Djeli Moussa developed a very intimate relationship with his 32-stringed Kora
Kora (instrument)
The kora is a 21-string bridge-harp used extensively in West Africa.-Description:A kora is built from a large calabash cut in half and covered with cow skin to make a resonator, and has a notched bridge. It does not fit well into any one category of western instruments and would have to be...
, which is unique and was adapted at his request from the 21-stringed traditional Kora. He is able to adapt to many different rhythms, from traditional Mandingo to Salsa, Flamenco, Blues and Jazz.
He has worked with many internationally acclaimed artists, including Ali Farka Touré
Ali Farka Touré
Ali Ibrahim “Farka” Touré was a Malian singer and guitarist, and one of the African continent’s most internationally renowned musicians. His music is widely regarded as representing a point of intersection of traditional Malian music and its North American cousin, the blues...
, Carlos Santana
Carlos Santana
Carlos Augusto Alves Santana is a Mexican rock guitarist. Santana became famous in the late 1960s and early 1970s with his band, Santana, which pioneered rock, salsa and jazz fusion...
, Manu Dibango
Manu Dibango
-External links:*...
, Janice deRosa, Stephan Eicher
Stephan Eicher
Stephan Eicher is a Swiss singer.His songs are sung in a variety of languages, including French, German, English, Italian, Swiss-German, and Romanche and sometimes he even uses different languages in the same piece.His success started in German-speaking countries in the 1980s when as part of the...
, Cheick Tidiane Seck
Cheick Tidiane Seck
Cheick Tidiane Seck is a Malian musician, arranger and composer. He has written for and played with world-famous African and jazz bands....
...
Discography
Solo- 1983 YasimikaYasimikaYasimika is the first studio album by Djeli Moussa Diawara , Guinean Kora player , released in 1983.-Background:Djeli Moussa Diawara recorded his first LP, now known as Yasimika, in Abidjan in 1982...
(LP - republished as CD in 1991) - 1988 Soubindoor (World Circuit)
- 1992 Cimadan
- 1996 Sobindo
- 1998 Flamenkora
- 2000 Ocean Blues - from Africa to Hawaï with Bob BrozmanBob BrozmanBob Brozman is an American guitarist and ethnomusicologist.He has performed in a number of styles such as Gypsy jazz, calypso, Blues, ragtime, Hawaiian and Caribbean music. Brozman has also collaborated with musicians from diverse cultural backgrounds such as India, Africa, Japan, Papua New Guinea...
- 2006 Sini
- 2010 YasimikaYasimikaYasimika is the first studio album by Djeli Moussa Diawara , Guinean Kora player , released in 1983.-Background:Djeli Moussa Diawara recorded his first LP, now known as Yasimika, in Abidjan in 1982...
(Abidjan 1982), remastered version of Djeli Moussa's first album - 2011 Yékéké (Paris 2010)
With Kora Jazz Trio
- 2003 Part I
- 2005 Part II
- 2008 Part III
Miscellaneous
- 1985 - Johnny CopelandJohnny CopelandJohnny Copeland was an American Texas blues guitarist and singer.-Career:Born in Haynesville, Louisiana, United States, while Copeland was becoming interested in music, he also pursued boxing, mostly as an avocation, and it is from his days as a boxer that he got his nickname "Clyde." Also as a...
- Djeli Moussa composed and played Djeli, Djeli Blues as Johnny's Special Guest, on "Bringin' It All Back Home" - 2009 - Mayra AndradeMayra AndradeMayra Andrade is a Cape Verdean singer who lives and records in Paris, France.Andrade was born in Cuba but grew up in Senegal, Angola, and Germany. However, she spent around two months of the year in the Cape Verdean island of Santiago...
"Stória, stória..." - 2006 - OST for Eliane de Latour movie "Après l'océan" - song Kanta
- 2005 - OST for Michel OcelotMichel OcelotMichel Ocelot is a French writer, character designer, storyboard artist and director of animated films and television programs and a former president of the International Animated Film Association...
French animated feature film "Kirikou et les bêtes sauvagesKirikou et les bêtes sauvagesis a 2005 French animated feature film. It premiered at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival on 13 May and, unlike its predecessor, received only festival screenings in all English-speaking territories...
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