Evento

The "Mali" Connection w/ Cheick Hamala Diabate and Papa Mali

Cheick Hamala Diabate returns to New Orleans this jazzfest for a very special co-bill with Papa Mali.

Papa Mali is probably best known for his recent stint as front man for 7 Walkers a band that also included the Grateful Dead's Bill Kreutzman, bassist George Porter Jr, and Dead lyricist Robert Hunter (who co-wrote many of the 7 Walkers tunes w/ Papa Mali). He is also known for his own live performances and recorded output, most notably his two albums for Fog City Records (2000s Thunder Chicken and 2007s Do Your Thing), both produced by Dan Prothero and the latter featuring some of New Orleans' most legendary musicians.

His work as a producer includes 7 Walkers (Response, 2010), The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster (Blue Corn, 2007) and records by Lavelle White, Omar and the Howlers, Wendy Colonna, The Greyhounds and others.

Cheick is king of the ngoni, banjo and guitar, and his CD "From Mali to America, received a Grammy nominee in 2007. Cheick has performed at festivals music venues and concert halls all over the world, including 2 appearances at the White House. A djeli (griot) from one of Mali's most storied musical families, Diabate is keeper of a vibrant musical tradition that blends history and performance. Equal parts musician and storyteller, Diabate's art is rooted as much in strings, percussion and sound as it is in praising, chiding, entertaining and reliving Mali's past. You can think of the djeli as a modern-day troubadour and in the realm of West African world music, Diabate is considered both bard and king.

This will be an amazing night of music, bring your dancing shoes. You may pay for an entire seat, but we promise that you'll only use the edge of it at most, and will likely be on your feet grooving to the music all night long.