Gabin Dabiré
Encyclopedia
Gabin Dabiré is a singer, guitar player, and composer from Burkina Faso
(former Upper Volta) who is resident in Italy.
Born in Bobo Dioulasso in the African state of Burkina Faso, Gabin Dabiré’s first experiences in music were taking lessons from and playing with the great masters of the traditional music of Burkina Faso.
In 1975 he travelled to Denmark and it was while studying there that he was first exposed to alternative European and contemporary music. In 1976 he toured in Italy and afterwards embarked on a study trip of chordophones and Indian percussion. In 1979 his collection of ethnic music of Western Africa was published by the cultural association and music group Futuro Antico
, which he co-founded with Walter Maioli
and Riccardo Sinigaglia
. The group pioneered the use of synthesized electronic tonalities matching the traditional musics from around the world. Their work was realised in the self-titled recording Futuro Antico
in 1980.
In 1980 he formed the group ‘Yelbuna’ with some musician friends of his country, and performed with them in several Italian cities.
In order to consolidate the wide-ranging activities he was involved in, including music, cinema and theatre, he founded the Centro Diffusione Promozione Cultura (Culture Promotion Diffusion Centre) in Milan in 1983. This enabled him to present various aspects of African Culture. In 1986 he moved to Tuscany with his family where he organised concerts, and completed the recording of his first CD Kontome ("Spirits"), which was released the following year. In 1992 he started to expand his repertoire to include crossover music, resulting in a successful collaboration with the Gregorian choir ‘Santa Cecilia’.
In 1994 his second CD entitled Afriki Djamana was released by the label Amiata Records
.
The multi-faceted career of this composer and musician has caused him constantly to research new timbres and sonorities. He has kept his African origins despite using instruments of other continents and working with western musicians.
The group ‘Gabin Dabiré and Musicians’ is inspired by Dabiré’s compositions, using harmonies that maintain the character of African music.
The collaboration with the saxophone player Daniele Malvisi and the drummer and percussionist Paolo Corsi, who are both very open minded towards new musical horizons, has allowed Gabin Dabiré and his brother Paul Dabiré to explore sonorities and rhythms that have created music that is unique.
Presently he plays in a group with Giovanni Conversano (Guitar), Gianmarco Scaglia (Bass), Daniele Malvisi (Sax), Paolo Casu (Drums), Paul Dabiré (percussion instruments).
In 2007 he released another Futuro Antico
recording with Maioli and Sinigaglia, called Intonazioni Archetipe
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated...
(former Upper Volta) who is resident in Italy.
Born in Bobo Dioulasso in the African state of Burkina Faso, Gabin Dabiré’s first experiences in music were taking lessons from and playing with the great masters of the traditional music of Burkina Faso.
In 1975 he travelled to Denmark and it was while studying there that he was first exposed to alternative European and contemporary music. In 1976 he toured in Italy and afterwards embarked on a study trip of chordophones and Indian percussion. In 1979 his collection of ethnic music of Western Africa was published by the cultural association and music group Futuro Antico
Futuro Antico (band)
Futuro Antico is a pioneering World Music group comprising Walter Maioli with Riccardo Sinigaglia and Gabin Dabiré...
, which he co-founded with Walter Maioli
Walter Maioli
Walter Maioli is an Italian researcher, paleorganologist, poly-instrumentalist and composer.Specialized in experimental archaeology and music, in particular that of archaic civilization. He has been researching the music of antiquity and prehistory for more than 35 years...
and Riccardo Sinigaglia
Riccardo Sinigaglia
Born in Arona in 1953, Riccardo Sinigaglia is an architect as well as musician. He teaches electronic music at Milan Conservatory where he studied during the seventies with Angelo Paccagnini....
. The group pioneered the use of synthesized electronic tonalities matching the traditional musics from around the world. Their work was realised in the self-titled recording Futuro Antico
Futuro Antico (album)
Futuro Antico is the self-titled recording made by Futuro Antico in 1980. It features a mixture of synthesized and ethnic music, highlighting the role intonation plays in music. This theme was featured in Tappo Volante the last Aktuala album, which featured the mixture of ethnic sounds and studio...
in 1980.
In 1980 he formed the group ‘Yelbuna’ with some musician friends of his country, and performed with them in several Italian cities.
In order to consolidate the wide-ranging activities he was involved in, including music, cinema and theatre, he founded the Centro Diffusione Promozione Cultura (Culture Promotion Diffusion Centre) in Milan in 1983. This enabled him to present various aspects of African Culture. In 1986 he moved to Tuscany with his family where he organised concerts, and completed the recording of his first CD Kontome ("Spirits"), which was released the following year. In 1992 he started to expand his repertoire to include crossover music, resulting in a successful collaboration with the Gregorian choir ‘Santa Cecilia’.
In 1994 his second CD entitled Afriki Djamana was released by the label Amiata Records
Amiata Records
Amiata Records is an independent cross-cultural record label founded in 1992 by Matteo Silva and Marc Eagleton withheadquarters in the historic center of Florence and offices in London, Lugano and Rome. Amiata derives its name from the mountain in southern Tuscany, one of the most un-spoilt areas...
.
The multi-faceted career of this composer and musician has caused him constantly to research new timbres and sonorities. He has kept his African origins despite using instruments of other continents and working with western musicians.
The group ‘Gabin Dabiré and Musicians’ is inspired by Dabiré’s compositions, using harmonies that maintain the character of African music.
The collaboration with the saxophone player Daniele Malvisi and the drummer and percussionist Paolo Corsi, who are both very open minded towards new musical horizons, has allowed Gabin Dabiré and his brother Paul Dabiré to explore sonorities and rhythms that have created music that is unique.
Presently he plays in a group with Giovanni Conversano (Guitar), Gianmarco Scaglia (Bass), Daniele Malvisi (Sax), Paolo Casu (Drums), Paul Dabiré (percussion instruments).
In 2007 he released another Futuro Antico
Futuro Antico (band)
Futuro Antico is a pioneering World Music group comprising Walter Maioli with Riccardo Sinigaglia and Gabin Dabiré...
recording with Maioli and Sinigaglia, called Intonazioni Archetipe
Intonazioni Archetipe (album)
Intonazioni Archetipe is the recording made by Futuro Antico in 2005 after a 25-year absence. It again features a mixture of synthesized and ethnic music, highlighting the role tuning systems plays in music .-Tracks:# Royal Cubit # African pink whale...
Style
Gabin Dabiré's music has universal appeal, it speaks beyond the narrow confines of Burkina Faso or even Africa. This may be partly explained by the fact that Dabiré wields the acoustic guitar in the same troubadour tradition of African guitar legends like Jean Bosco Mwenda, S.E. Rogie and Ali Farka Toure. However, he is truly original in layering various sounds over each other. Each song is indelibly stamped with Dabiré's unmistakable trademark tapestry whereby the sound of one instrument is woven into the next, creating sparkling sound waves.Performances
He also played with: Mario Arcari, Walter Maioli, Riccardo Sinigaglia, Maurizio Deho, Tommaso Leddi, Mino De Martino, Lucas Flores, Giulio Capiozzo, Tulio De Piscopo, Paolo Giaro, Paolo Panigada, Jack Tama, Paolo Corsi, Bruno Genero, Cecilia Chailly, Bernardino Pennazzi, Marc Eagleton, Matteo Silva-Dominic Miller, Manu Katché, Pino Palladino.Discography
- 1980 with Futuro AnticoFuturo Antico (band)Futuro Antico is a pioneering World Music group comprising Walter Maioli with Riccardo Sinigaglia and Gabin Dabiré...
, "Futuro AnticoFuturo Antico (album)Futuro Antico is the self-titled recording made by Futuro Antico in 1980. It features a mixture of synthesized and ethnic music, highlighting the role intonation plays in music. This theme was featured in Tappo Volante the last Aktuala album, which featured the mixture of ethnic sounds and studio...
" Cassette, CD for "correnti magnetiche" - 1990 "Kontômè (Spirits)" CD for New Sound Planet
- 1994 "Afriki Djamana: Music from Burkina Faso" CD for Amiata RecordsAmiata RecordsAmiata Records is an independent cross-cultural record label founded in 1992 by Matteo Silva and Marc Eagleton withheadquarters in the historic center of Florence and offices in London, Lugano and Rome. Amiata derives its name from the mountain in southern Tuscany, one of the most un-spoilt areas...
- 1996 New arrangiament of "Kontômè (Spirits)" CD for Amiata RecordsAmiata RecordsAmiata Records is an independent cross-cultural record label founded in 1992 by Matteo Silva and Marc Eagleton withheadquarters in the historic center of Florence and offices in London, Lugano and Rome. Amiata derives its name from the mountain in southern Tuscany, one of the most un-spoilt areas...
- 1996 "Daby-Bâ" CD collaboration of Bruno Genero Ensemble, for QDS
- 1997 "African Angels" CD participation for Amiata RecordsAmiata RecordsAmiata Records is an independent cross-cultural record label founded in 1992 by Matteo Silva and Marc Eagleton withheadquarters in the historic center of Florence and offices in London, Lugano and Rome. Amiata derives its name from the mountain in southern Tuscany, one of the most un-spoilt areas...
- 1997 "World Music Atlas" multimedial CD collaboration for Amharsi Srl/Amiata RecordsAmiata RecordsAmiata Records is an independent cross-cultural record label founded in 1992 by Matteo Silva and Marc Eagleton withheadquarters in the historic center of Florence and offices in London, Lugano and Rome. Amiata derives its name from the mountain in southern Tuscany, one of the most un-spoilt areas...
- 1998 "Colors" CD participation for Amiata RecordsAmiata RecordsAmiata Records is an independent cross-cultural record label founded in 1992 by Matteo Silva and Marc Eagleton withheadquarters in the historic center of Florence and offices in London, Lugano and Rome. Amiata derives its name from the mountain in southern Tuscany, one of the most un-spoilt areas...
- 2000 Participation to "Africa X - Zokue Kpole"
- 2002 "Tieru" CD for Intuition
- 2004 "The New Orleans Jig" CD participation for the EthnicPiano
- 2007 with Futuro AnticoFuturo Antico (band)Futuro Antico is a pioneering World Music group comprising Walter Maioli with Riccardo Sinigaglia and Gabin Dabiré...
, "Intonazioni ArchetipeIntonazioni Archetipe (album)Intonazioni Archetipe is the recording made by Futuro Antico in 2005 after a 25-year absence. It again features a mixture of synthesized and ethnic music, highlighting the role tuning systems plays in music .-Tracks:# Royal Cubit # African pink whale...
"