Ablaye Cissoko and Cyrille Brotto
Two masters celebrate the beauty of cross-cultural musical exploration.
West African kora player and singer Ablaye Cissoko and French multi-instrumentalist Cyrille Brotto meld the deep traditions of their musical cultures with innovation and effortless grace.
Cissoko’s delicate voice and kora combined with the vibrant sound of Brotto’s main instrument, the accordion, create remarkably warm and compelling music that fuses West African and French musical traditions, jazz, and classical music.
One of the world’s finest performers of the kora, the 21-stringed African harp-lute, Cissoko is known for his melodic style, intimate vocals, and storytelling. As a "griot," he is part of a tradition of oral historians, sharing knowledge and connecting generations through music. He has created music with trumpeter Volker Goetze, the Canadian ensemble Constantinople, African Jazz Roots and many others.
A master of the diatonic accordion, Cyrille’s work spans traditional music, contemporary collaborations, and even hip-hop influences. His talent showcases a vivid, evocative, and deeply expressive musical world.
The duo followed up their 2022 debut Instant, with the extraordinary Djiyo in January of this year.
“Masterful... a gem from start to finish.” Songlines
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