Chamber Music (Ballake Sissoko and Vincent Segal album)
Encyclopedia
Chamber Music is an album by Ballaké Sissoko
and Vincent Segal
. It was released in 2009 by the French label No Format!
and in 2011 by the U.S. label Six Degrees Records
. The result of a close collaboration between the two friends and musicians, it melds Sissoko's traditional kora
playing with Segal's trip hop infused approach to the classical cello.
Chamber Music has been described as a work of quiet beauty and soulful simplicity.
and Taj Mahal
. He met the French born Segal by chance, and the two began jamming together, uncertain of what kind of music might result. As a former member of the French National Orchestra, Segal's Western classical training does not prevent him from exploring a wide variety of extended techniques, rendering his cello a flexible partner to Sissoko's kora. A childhood spent in the Pigalle district of Paris surrounded by immigrant communities exposed Segal to African music from an early age. As such, he possesses a natural sensitivity to Sissoko's West-African style.
An open improvisational spirit marks the otherwise composed works of Chamber Music, with each musicians contributing individual compositions as well participating in a joint endeavor of sonic exploration. In previous collaborations as in this one, both Sissoko and Ségal emphasize the modern adaptability of their respective instruments, Sissoko through his preference for eclectic collaborations over solo endeavors and Segal through his work with the dub/trip hop Bumcello.
Studio Mouffou in Bamako. No overdubs were used, and while most of the tracks feature only Sissoko and Segal, musical contributions were made by Awa Sangho on vocals, Mahamadou Kamissoko on ngoni
, Fassery Diabaté on balafon
, and Demba Camara on bolon
.
Guests:
Ballaké Sissoko
Ballaké Sissoko is a noted player of the kora. He has worked with Toumani Diabaté and Taj Mahal and several others. He can be heard on Diario Mali. Ballaké's father, Djelimady Sissoko, was a notable musician in his own right.-Biography:...
and Vincent Segal
Vincent Ségal
Vincent Ségal, is a French cellist and bassist born in 1967 in the French city of Reims.He is a conservatory musician from the National Music Academy of Lyon who also studied at Banff Centre for the Arts in Canada. He is mainly known for the variety of his collaborations and out of the ordinary...
. It was released in 2009 by the French label No Format!
No Format!
No Format! is an independent record label based in Paris and created in 2004.The label seeks to invest in original musical projects, be them instrumental or vocal, and has built up a catalogue of 18 works since its inception...
and in 2011 by the U.S. label Six Degrees Records
Six Degrees Records
Six Degrees Records is an independent record label noted for its catalog of recordings from international musicians and vocalists. It has been described by the journalist and producer Derek Beres as "one of the most groundbreaking labels of the past decade."...
. The result of a close collaboration between the two friends and musicians, it melds Sissoko's traditional kora
Kora (instrument)
The kora is a 21-string bridge-harp used extensively in West Africa.-Description:A kora is built from a large calabash cut in half and covered with cow skin to make a resonator, and has a notched bridge. It does not fit well into any one category of western instruments and would have to be...
playing with Segal's trip hop infused approach to the classical cello.
Chamber Music has been described as a work of quiet beauty and soulful simplicity.
Background
Hailing from a long tradition of Malian kora players, Sissoko has worked with renowned musicians such as Toumani DiabatéToumani Diabaté
Toumani Diabaté is a Malian kora player. In addition to performing the traditional music of Mali, he has also been involved in cross-cultural collaborations with flamenco, blues, jazz, and other international styles.-Biography:...
and Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal (musician)
Henry Saint Clair Fredericks , who uses the stage name Taj Mahal, is an American Grammy Award winning blues musician. He incorporates elements of world music into his music...
. He met the French born Segal by chance, and the two began jamming together, uncertain of what kind of music might result. As a former member of the French National Orchestra, Segal's Western classical training does not prevent him from exploring a wide variety of extended techniques, rendering his cello a flexible partner to Sissoko's kora. A childhood spent in the Pigalle district of Paris surrounded by immigrant communities exposed Segal to African music from an early age. As such, he possesses a natural sensitivity to Sissoko's West-African style.
An open improvisational spirit marks the otherwise composed works of Chamber Music, with each musicians contributing individual compositions as well participating in a joint endeavor of sonic exploration. In previous collaborations as in this one, both Sissoko and Ségal emphasize the modern adaptability of their respective instruments, Sissoko through his preference for eclectic collaborations over solo endeavors and Segal through his work with the dub/trip hop Bumcello.
Recording Details
The album was recorded over the course of three sessions at Salif Keita'sSalif Keita
Salif Keïta is an internationally recognized afro-pop singer-songwriter from Mali. He is unique not only because of his reputation as the Golden Voice of Africa, but because he has albinism and is a direct descendant of the founder of the Mali Empire, Sundiata Keita...
Studio Mouffou in Bamako. No overdubs were used, and while most of the tracks feature only Sissoko and Segal, musical contributions were made by Awa Sangho on vocals, Mahamadou Kamissoko on ngoni
Ngoni (instrument)
The ngoni or "n'goni" is a string instrument originating in West Africa. Its body is made of wood or calabash with dried animal skin stretched over it like a drum. In the hands of a skilled ngoni instrumentalist, the ngoni can produce fast rapid melodies...
, Fassery Diabaté on balafon
Balafon
The balafon is a resonated frame, wooden keyed percussion idiophone of West Africa; part of the idiophone family of tuned percussion instruments that includes the xylophone, marimba, glockenspiel, and the vibraphone...
, and Demba Camara on bolon
Wassoulou music
Wassoulou is a genre of West African popular music, named after the region of Wassoulou. It is performed mostly by women, using lyrics that address women's issues regarding childbearing, fertility and polygamy...
.
Critical Reception
There is a general consensus among critics that the collaboration between Sissoko and Segal has successfully merged their culturally distinct musical visions into a rousing hybrid. Chamber Music holds up on the strength of its creators' ability to understand each other's musical languages without resorting to overwrought instrumental embellishments or electronic manipulation. The minimalism of the arrangements serves to showcase each musician's sensitivity to the points of convergence between their respective instruments. Although such a collaboration is neither unusual nor groundbreaking at this point in the history of musical hybrids, a pairing that may have seemed awkward at first manages to produce spellbinding results. Altogether, Chamber Music strikes a fine balance in which the musical cultures of West Africa and Western Europe meet on equal terms.Track listing
All songs composed by Ballaké Sissoko except 2, 5 and 6 composed by Vincent Segal- "Chamber Music" - 5:31
- "Oscarine" - 5:41
- "Houdesti" - 8:52
- "Wo Yé N'Gnougobine" - 5:51
- "Histoire de Molly" - 5:31
- "'Ma-Ma' FC" - 5:12
- "Regret-À Kader Barry" - 3:45
- "Halinkata Djoubé" - 5:08
- "Future" - 3:15
- "Mako Mady" - 6:06
Personnel
- Ballaké SissokoBallaké SissokoBallaké Sissoko is a noted player of the kora. He has worked with Toumani Diabaté and Taj Mahal and several others. He can be heard on Diario Mali. Ballaké's father, Djelimady Sissoko, was a notable musician in his own right.-Biography:...
– koraKora (instrument)The kora is a 21-string bridge-harp used extensively in West Africa.-Description:A kora is built from a large calabash cut in half and covered with cow skin to make a resonator, and has a notched bridge. It does not fit well into any one category of western instruments and would have to be... - Vincent SegalVincent SégalVincent Ségal, is a French cellist and bassist born in 1967 in the French city of Reims.He is a conservatory musician from the National Music Academy of Lyon who also studied at Banff Centre for the Arts in Canada. He is mainly known for the variety of his collaborations and out of the ordinary...
– celloCelloThe cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
Guests:
- Lead vocal on "Regret" – Awa Sanagho
- NgoniNgoni (instrument)The ngoni or "n'goni" is a string instrument originating in West Africa. Its body is made of wood or calabash with dried animal skin stretched over it like a drum. In the hands of a skilled ngoni instrumentalist, the ngoni can produce fast rapid melodies...
on "Houdesti" – Mahamadou Kamissoko - BalafonBalafonThe balafon is a resonated frame, wooden keyed percussion idiophone of West Africa; part of the idiophone family of tuned percussion instruments that includes the xylophone, marimba, glockenspiel, and the vibraphone...
on "Houdesti" – Fassery Diabate - BolonWassoulou musicWassoulou is a genre of West African popular music, named after the region of Wassoulou. It is performed mostly by women, using lyrics that address women's issues regarding childbearing, fertility and polygamy...
on "Oscarine," "Halinkata Djoubé," and "Mako Mady"; karignan on "'Ma-Ma' FC," "Regret-À Kader Barry" – Demba Camara