For over half a century, Kassé Mady Diabaté has been stunning listeners in Mali and the world over with his powerful range as a traditional West African vocalist. Still going strong, we’ve got a vinyl copy of his latest album Kiriké that we’re eager to send your way.
Kassé Mady Diabaté, born in Kéla of West Africa in 1949, comes from a profound and influential lineage of musicians. His grandfather built a legacy as a singer under the moniker Jeli Fama, and his great aunt Siramori was equally as successful. While still a child, his family recognized his gift for music and encouraged him to cultivate his talents.
At the fresh age of 21, Diabaté became the lead singer of the Orchestre Régional Super Mandé de Kangaba. This career move was made concurrently with the Cultural Authenticity Initiative, an artistic movement that intended to reinvigorate the heritages of the newly independent West African states. After several successful collaborations in West Africa, Diabaté moved to Paris. He recorded two albums with producer Ibrahima Sylla during his ten-year residence.
The entirety of Diabaté’s career has been speckled with internationally successful albums, both collaborative and solo. His newest Kiriké arrived earlier this January with Six Degrees Records. This album is the quietly intricate third installment of an ongoing project between Diabaté and two close musical confidants, Ballaké Sissoko, brilliantly delicate on the kora (a 21-stringed guitar/harp) and Vincent Segal, a virtuoso cellist. The three complement each other in the kind of harmonious way only expected of such world-renowned musicians.
If you have yet to dip into the music of West Africa, samplings from this album would pair nicely with the likes of Christine Salem, Andrew Bird, and The Goat Rodeo Sessions.
Hoping Diabaté’s velvet crooning might sooth you out of your daily post-work stress? Tell us below in the comments which track from Kiriké or Diabaté’s larger discography is your favorite, and we’ll send one lucky reader with a North American mailing address a vinyl copy. One winner will be notified directly by email a week from today, January 27, 2015.
