Traditional Inventiveness: Andra Kouyaté and Sèkè Chi Reveal the Innovative Spirit and Polyglot Funk in Mali’s Deepest Roots

In some musically vibrant corners of the world, innovation is the tradition. 

So it is in Mali, where the sounds of the Saharan north have mingled with an array of West African traditions in the south. Musicians like Andra Kouyaté show how his homeland’s deep and diverse roots are a constant source of innovative inspiration. 

The young scion of a profoundly respected griot family, Kouyaté has invented instruments, transformed Malian standards into fresh new pieces, and taken a contemporary ear to traditional sounds, incorporating pop and reggae with the effortless aplomb that has put Mali on the world’s musical map.

On his first major international release, Andra and his youthful ensemble Sèkè Chi bring a wide-ranging, aesthetically linked set of songs on Saro (Studio Mali; July 31, 2012). Saro features contributions by Amadou and Mariam; by wife and local star Mah Bara Soumano; by older brother Bassekou Kouyaté; by respected Malian singer Ami Sacko; by Harouna Samake the kamele n’goni player for Salif Keita; and by balafon whiz Lassana Diabaté of the Grammy-winning project AfroCubism. The album reveals Andra’s stunning ability to embrace not only all the musical possibilities of Mali’s many traditions, but also a relentless drive to create and re-imagine the music he loves.

Maningakan by Andra Kouyaté & Sèkè Chi

An out-of-time, visceral collection of songs & sounds from Bamako-based producer Paul Chandler’s unparalleled archive. These high fidelity field recordings take us deep inside the full sonic power of the Malian musical experience.

Musician,
Percussionist,
instrument collector,
Instrument restorer,
Instrument builder.

WAVE OF LOVE
https://dragonfly4.bandcamp.com/album/wave-of-love
MOOD FOR LOVE
https://dragonfly4.bandcamp.com/album/mood-for-love
VAGAMUNDO
https://dragonfly4.bandcamp.com/album/vagamundo
COSMIC GROOVE (333 Tracks Album)
https://dragonfly4.bandcamp.com/album/cosmic-groove
HOLLY SOUNDZ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdDl96L2e38
RUNNING LOVE 
https://dragonfly4.bandcamp.com/album/running-love


21/10/2018: LE CLAPIER(St Etienne) avec Harrison Stafford(Groundation)& Brain Damage
21/06/2016: LES SONS DE LA MINE (St Etienne)+ Brain Damage

 PERCH'n'ROLL PARTY TOUR 2014:
08/29/14:The Magic Garden-London UK
08/30/14:Fox & Firkin-London UK
09/01/14:The Magic Garden-London UK
09/03/14:Toshi's Living Room & Penthouse-NYC
09/04/14:Silvana-NYC
09/05/14:Piano-NYC
09/06/14:Gussy's bar-NYC
09/09/14:Otto's Shrunken Heads-NYC
09/11/14:3rd & Girard-Philly
09/12/14:Triumph Bewery Company-Philly
09/13/14:Tea Lounge-NYC-Brooklyn
09/13/14:The Way Station-NYC-Brooklyn
09/15/14:Lic Bar-NYC
09/18/14:Joe's Record Paradise-Washington DC
09/19/14:Heaven Club-Washington DC
09/20/14:Electric Maid-Washington DC
09/26/14:Kulchure Collaborative-Cleveland
09/27/14:21 Lounge-Cleveland
09/28/14:Impala Cocktail Lounge-Milwaukie
10/01/14:Emporium-Chicago
10/03/14:Black Hawk-Moline
10/04/14:Transistor-Chicago
10/04/14:Storefm-Chicago
10/05/14:Disaster House-Rockford
10/08/14:Book's Cooperative-Milwaukie
10/09/14:The Washington-Burlington
10/10/14:Vaudeville Mews-Des Moines
10/11/14:The Ritual Cafe-Des Moines
10/17/14:Hard Hat Lounge-Las Vegas
10/22/14:Ham&Eggs-Los Angeles
10/23/14:The Crest Bar-Los Angeles
10/25/14:Max Bloom Cafe-Los Angeles
10/25/14:Bill'O's Ventura-Los Angeles
10/29/14:The WitZend-Los Angeles
10/30/14:The Cooper Door-Los Angeles
11/01/14:Honey Hive Gallery-San Francisco
11/02/14:Stork Club-Oakland
11/03/14:Grand Studio-Oakland
11/04/14:Vic Bistro-San Francisco
11/05/14:Blue Lagoon-Santa Cruz
11/06/14:Mason Social Club-San Francisco
11/07/14:Audio Dru Moyco-San Jose
11/08/14:Winter's Tavern-San Francisco
11/09/14:Bocci's Cellar-Santa Cruz
11/10/14:The Place 2 Be-Canby
11/11/14:El Corazon-Seattle
11/12/14:Cafe Istanbul-New Orleans
11/14/14:Beatnik-New Orleans

WINDYWOODYDUB'N'MORE!!!!!!!

DRAGON FLY IS A COMPOSER,PRODUCER,SAXOPHONIST & CLARINETIST WHO PLAYS IN MANY BANDS (GAGADILO...)
HIS NEW PROJECT (SUMMER 2013) PRESENT A LIVE ELECTRO-DUB-HIP HOP WITH A LOT OF  INFLUENCES (WORLD,REGGAE,JAZZ,FUNK...) COMPOSITIONS,REMIXES & BOOTLEGS ARE MIXED TO PROPOSE YOU AN ECCLECTIC MUSICAL TRAVEL FROM ROOTS TO URBAN SOUNDS...KEEP THE PERCH & HAVE A NICE LISTENNING!!!

BOOKING:
YESMUSIC TOUR
arnaud.booking@yahoo.fr
+33(0)674632783


05/07/14 au 31/07/13:FESTIVAL D' AVIGNON résident à LA FABRIK THÉATRE
19/12/13:SOIRÉE ÉTUDIANTE @ La K-FET de L'INSA (LYON)
14/12/13:LOCAL DES GREEN (ST ETIENNE)
07/12/13:L'ASSOMMOIR (ST ÉTIENNE)
22/11/13:AU BAR ET VOUS? (ST ÉTIENNE)
16/11/13:10 ans d UPTOWN @ LITTLE SOBA (ST ETIENNE)
01/11/13:FESTIVAL 1001 BASS @ LITTLE SOBA (ST ETIENNE)
13/09/13:1 ST GIG :Soirée ANARYTHMIK @ LA GUEULE NOIRE (ST ETIENNE)

JULY 2013:Dragon FLY bought a computer & started to produce some tunes!!

25/05/78:"A STAR IS BORN"!!!....dixit the Dragon FLY'S MOTHER!!!

Maningakan by Andra Kouyaté & Sèkè Chi

Remote Records/Studio Mali