Kora (instrument) - Selected Discography

Selected Discography

African composers (oral tradition)

• Mali : cordes anciennes / Mali : Ancient Strings, Sidiki Diabate and Djelimadi Sissoko, Buda Music, 2000. First published in 1970, this CD was the first album totally devoted to the kora. Sidiki Diabate was the father of Toumani Diabate, and Djelimadi Sissoko was the father of Ballake Sissoko. They both recorded "New Ancient Strings - Nouvelles Cordes Anciennes" in 1999 (Hannibal), as a tribute to their fathers.
• Gambie : l'art de la kora, Jali Nyama Suso, edited by Roderic Knight, Ocora, 1996. First published in 1972, this CD is also a historical recording.
• Jali Kunda - Griots of West Africa & Beyond, Ellipsis Arts, 1996. A book and a CD edited by Foday Musa Suso, produced by Bill Laswell. Photographs by Daniel Lainé. A journey through traditional kora music and three original meetings: kora and piano (Spring Waterfall by Foday Musa Suso and Philip Glass) ; kora and synthesizers (Lanmbasy Dub, with Bill Laswell, bass, and Jeff Bova, synthesizers) ; kora and saxophone (Samma, a duet with jazz saxophonist Pharaoh Sanders).
• The Mandé Variations, Toumani Diabate, World Circuit, 2008. Twenty years after his first CD, Kaira (Hannibal, 1988) - that was also the first CD ever recorded with solo kora pieces without any song -, Toumani Diabate alternates traditional pieces on a kora with leather rings and his own creations with a special tuning on a kora with wooden pegs.

Western composers (written music)

• Quand renaît le matin, Abbaye de Keur Moussa, Art et Musique, 2007. First published in 1991, this album gathers pieces composed and performed by Brother Dominique Catta and Carole Ouellet : solo kora pieces, songs with kora accompaniment and a Concerto for flute and three koras. There is also a piece composed by Brother Grégoire for three koras differently tuned played by one musician.
• Le Jour des Merveilles, Jacques Burtin, 3 Cd Box Set, Bayard Musique, 2009. Pieces for solo kora, duets with cello, viola, guitar and koto, suites for flute, guitar and three koras.