Studio Jazz: Diabel Cissokho Trio

Joff Watkins – harmonica

Ndene Ndiaye – percussion

Our penultimate Studio Jazz gig of the season sees a real star of Senegalese music visit the Sherling, as part of a wonderful trio of musicians

Diabel Cissokho is a visionary creative pushing the boundaries of the Senegalese sound, with his unique Afro Mandingue Blues style. Coming from a great line of TBC

Cissokho griots (a griot is a storyteller, singer, musician, and often oral historian), Diabel’s musical pedigree is exceptional, counting Youssou N’Dour, Baaba Maal, Amadou and Mariam, Manu Dibango and Ernest Ranglin, as musical peers; and the likes of Paul McCartney as collaborators.

Recently featured on BBC 4 show African Renaissance:Senegal, exploring his role as a griot, Diabel has spent the best part of his musical career exploring the blues roots of his griot traditions. His 5th album, ‘Rhythm of the Griot’ focused on exploring and sharing this rich musical history. The album courses with a belief that the griot tradition is accessible to everyone, regardless of the languages they speak.

As an ambassador for the new generation of Senegalese music, with his “resonant voice and rocking kora style” (Songlines magazine), Diabel aims to bring his unique Afro Mandingue Blues style, transcendent Mandinkan melodies, and raucous Senegalese rhythms to the world. He’s played everywhere from WOMAD to Glastonbury to Africa Oyé. The beautiful sound of the kora (African harp), combined with gentle, improvised, almost meditative songs – plus livelier West African blues – should make for a very special evening.