Tomora

Ballake Sissoko

Indigo

LBLC 2596

Malian kora virtuoso Ballake Sissoko won critical acclaim for his 2001 album Deli. That album managed to top best world music CD lists all over the world and confirmed Sissoko as a true 'musicians' musician'. Once known only as Toumani Diabate's cousin and sideman, he took his place in the world of West African music as one of the kora greats. Now his eagerly awaited second album Tomora is here and although he stays true to his Mande roots, the album has a few twists and turns along the way with guests including Toumani Diabate and Rokia Traore.

Sissoko had a great start to his musical life. He learned to play the 21-stringed kora from his father, the grand master of Manding kora playing, Jelimady Sissoko. At the age of 14 he replaced his father in the Ensemble Instrumental National and by the late 1980s was also playing in electric bands.

The young Sissoko studied hard and played with a variety of Malian musicians in order to broaden his musical knowledge and ability. He played alongside fellow Malian musician, guitarist Djelimady Tounkara among others, and picked up Western scales and riffs. He then set himself the challenge of applying Western modes to kora music while still providing rhythmic structure. Simultaneously, he would follow different melodic lines with his thumbs and...