Moussa Kouyaté: The Bristol Griot at St Stephen's Church

About

An exquisite showcase by a virtuoso kora/balafon duo.

Atmospheric in its church setting, this gently classy, life-affirming musical union between distinguished kora master Moussa Kouyaté, recognised as the 'Bristol Griot', and dazzling balafonist Ben Badoo celebrates the release of Kouyaté's superb studio album 'Tumultuous Journey'.

A mixture of subtlety and energy, it takes in both ancient themes and new songs and was recorded as a full band record with the rhythm section of the global jazz ensemble BEJE, harpist Emmy Broughton, and Suntou Susso, a nephew of Moussa and a rising international star of Afro-pop, on djembe.

This show balances stripped-back performances of songs from the album - Moussa matching the beautiful harp-like sound of his rippling kora playing against the bright, subtle percussive counterpoint of Ben's balafon (xylophone) - with excellent solos. And artfully interacting with the duo on trumpet and flugel horn is the sympathetic accompanist and skilled soloist David Mowat, leader of BEJE and a jazz composer and trumpeter with a love of unorthodox collaborations.

It's difficult to imagine greater empathy between three outstanding musicians triumphantly championing their crafts, bringing different cultures together, and embodying with every note they play their immense traditions.

Plus:
kora player and oral historian Bunja Conteh talks about the place of griots in West African society.

Tickets
Standard: £0
Suggested Donation: £10

Runtime
1pm: Bunja Conteh: 'The Griot Yesterday And Today' (lecture)
1.30pm: Kouyaté/Badoo/Mowat (live music set)

A Diaspora! Festival 2024 event.