NMC and Alliance Française bring Kora Flamenca live to Calgary! Discover the Enchanting Sounds of Kora Flamenca at Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre.
Join us on Friday, February 28, for a mesmerizing musical experience blending Afro-Mandingo rhythms with the passion of flamenco. Zal Sissokho (kora and voice) and Caroline Planté (flamenco guitar and voice), accompanied by percussionist Miguel Medina, present Kora Flamenca II.
This unique collaboration features 10 vibrant new tracks, weaving their musical traditions into a colorful and captivating journey. Don’t miss this celebration of culture and sound live in Calgary!
About ZAL SISSOKHO (kora and voice)
Not every musician who comes from Africa is a griot. These bearers of oral traditions are from the Kouyaté, Diabaté or Sissokho castes; the only three great families who peddle the memory of the Mandinka people. Zal Idrissa Sissokho doesn't just have the name, he has the background and this incredible ability to improvise.
Arriving in Montreal in 1999 and receiving grants from the Canada and Quebec Councils for the Arts on several occasions since 2001, Zal Idrissa Sissokho quickly took his place in the Montreal soundscape. A prolific, generous artist with a desire to take the kora and Afro-Mandingo music ever further, he has accumulated recognition, prizes and exchanges with many artists from all continents.
The kora, his instrument, this 21-string African harp blends wonderfully well with contemporary Western music. By addressing current and primordial themes of society, Zal Sissokho highlights the unique sound of his instrument and invites discovery and travel. His music with Afro-Mandingo accents, his mixed compositions, his warm and rooted voice and his committed words are highlighted in each of his 5 albums, all rich in multiple collaborations and focused on sharing.
About CAROLINE PLANTÉ (flamenco guitar and voice)
She had the chance to learn music from the age of 7 with her father, Marcel Planté "El Rubio", one of the pioneers of the genre in Canada in the 1960s. She is one of the few women in the world to practice this art, which was "reserved" for men, until not so long ago.
Caroline is one of those who actively collaborated, without planning it, in breaking the mold. She is the first woman in the world to compose and perform a flamenco guitar album (8reflexiones - recorded in Madrid in 2010). She has more than 30 years of stage experience and is recognized for the quality of her compositions and her eclectic collaborations.
After a 10-year career in Spain with the Cruceta Flamenco troupe, with whom she acted as musical director, composer and performer from 2004 to 2013, she returned to Montreal with the desire to broaden her horizons and since then has multiplied collaborations. with artists from different musical styles and works in parallel on his personal projects which are associated with several awards.
About Alliance Française of Calgary
Founded in in 1947, the Alliance Française of Calgary offers French classes to all ages, promotes French culture as well as the diversity of Francophone cultures, and creates an inclusive community for all to enjoy.
Serving each of the 1,200 students that come every year to learn and have a good time in their classes and cultural events, as well as borrow books from the largest fully-French library in Western Canada.