Concerts Off the Circle is a house concert venue dedicated to showcasing local talent in an intimate environment.
Bal du Kor Lisa and I had the opportunity to see Michael and Brian perform as part of a jazz quintet and were blown away by the quality of the performance and the originality of the compositions. This is a telling preview of what we are in store for at our inaugural event.
Bal du Kor is composed of three veteran performers/composers/recording artists joining forces to create an enchanting fusion of traditional and original West African melodies and rhythms.
The heart of this dynamic and captivating ensemble are the indigenous instruments balafon (marimba), dun-dun (talking drum), and kora (harp), uniquely combined with alto flute, ukulele, melodica, djembe, djun-djuns, shekere, bells, tambourine, and vocals.
The band's emotional range spans from the delicate and longing to the inspiring and ecstatic, while their collective cosmopolitan backgrounds give birth to unpredictable musical excursions.
Bal du Kor are: Michael Smolens balafon, djun-djuns, shakers, bell, dumbek, tambourine, alto flute, melodica, vocals
