Toumani Diabaté’s Symmetric Orchestra

Toumani Diabaté, from Mali, West Africa, is considered by many to be the world’s finest kora player. More than any other artist, he is responsible for introducing the 21-string harp, unique to West Africa, to audiences around the world. A versatile performer, he is equally at home with the traditional music of Mali as well as cross-cultural collaborations with flamenco, blues, jazz, and other international styles, as demonstrated by his work with Taj Mahal and Ali Farka Touré. The self-taught Diabaté comes from a long family tradition of kora players including his father, Sidiki Diabaté, who recorded the first ever kora album in 1970. Diabaté made his debut at the age of 13 and first toured throughout Africa at the age of 19 with Kandia Kouyate, the great diva and best-known female griot singer in Mali. His album, In the Heart of the Moon, with Ali Farka Touré, won the 2005 Grammy for Best Traditional World Music Album. The 10-piece, Symmetric Orchestra which received rave reviews in the New York Times for its recent Carnegie Hall performance, is a nod to Toumani Diabaté’s ongoing balancing act between the old and new where the ancient kora meets modern West African dance music. “It’s music rides on the intricacies of West African rhythm–shifting multilayered three-against-two syncopations–and on galvanizing dynamics that call for a dance floor.” In addition to Toumani Diabaté’s Symmetric Orchestra on Saturday Night on Civic Plaza in Albuquerque, the New Mexico Jazz Festival and Albuquerque Summerfest will present an evening of world music and jazz with one of New Mexico’s longest-standing, and overwhelmingly popular home grown world music bands, Wagogo, playing music inspired by Zimbabwe uniquely filtered through the New Mexico prism. Also appearing will be a recent addition to the New Mexico music scene— the Albuquerque African Ensemble featuring the music and dance of Assane Kouyate (Senegal) on vocals; Male Fainke, (Mali) on djembe & acoustic guitar, Kobiana Nakigan (Senegal) playing djembe & djoon-djoon; and Alyson Steinman (Albuquerque) on djoon-djoon & bass guitars. Stu MacAskie’s Sidewinders with special guest vocalist Cathryn McGill will also perform.

$55/$40/$30/$20. $5 Discount for Outpost Members available in person only with valid Outpost Member Card. No Member passes. Tickets available at Lensic Box Office in person or by phone (505)988-1234; online at ticketssantafe.com; or at The Outpost Performance Space in person 10am-2pm, M-F; or by phone 268-0044.