SISSOKO & SEGAL BLEND BAROQUE AND WEST AFRICAN MUSIC

– Special to WEKY AM 1340 –

Berea College welcomes the public and campus community to this week’s convocation featuring Ballaké Sissoko & Vincent Ségal who collaborate to create hybrid chamber music. Sissoko, who plays the traditional kora, a lute-harp from Mali, and Segal, a French cellist who plays for the trip-hop band Bumcello, will present Night Music: Blending West African and Baroque Traditions at Phelps Stokes Chapel on Thursday, February 23, 2017 at 8:00 p.m. This convocation, part of the Stephenson Memorial Concert series, is free and open to the public.

After touring together for more than 20 years, they’ve developed a hybrid tradition that draws from West African troubadour songs, the heritage of Baroque music, and modern sensibilities. At a time when cross-cultural music has tended toward highly-caffeinated electric pop and dance music, Sissoke and Segal remind us that there is room –maybe even a need– for a quieter, more refined world music.

Their collaboration grew out of a personal friendship with no attempt to produce a record that would be commercial. Their collaboration with chamber music came at a time when cross culture music tended to veer towards electric pop and dance music.