Aka Moon - Interactive Experience

Aka Moon - Interactive Experience

PROJECTS

 

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!! CURRENT PROJECTS!!

Aka Moon + Baba Sissoko & Black Machine

Aka Moon Private Tour

Aka Moon & The Light Ship Tantra

Aka Moon & The Istanbull Express

 


Aka Moon + Baba Sissoko & Black Machine


Aka Moon is known for their passion for rhythms. They had special collaborations with great masters of percussion such as the Indian Mridangamplayer Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman and the Senegalese percussionist Doudou N'Diaye Rose and his brothers.

Born in Bamako (Mali), Baba Sissoko is the undisputed master of tamani (the original talking drum). He is from a great and ancient dynasty of griots from Mali. In the Malian tradition, griots are deputed to calm down hearts and souls, by means of music. His ability to play a wide range of musical instruments (he also plays ngoni, kamalengoni, guitar, balaphon, calebasse, sildrum and… he sings!) and his extreme sensitivity to other musical genders and expressions, brought him to cooperate with many fine musicians. Among others, he worked and cooperated with: Habib Koite, Rokia Traore, Ibrahim Ferrer, Buena Vista Social Club, Don Moye and Art Ensemble of Chicago, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Miguel Anga Diaz, Omar Sosa, Chris Joris, Bob Stuwart…

The first musical encounter between Aka Moon and Baba Sissoko took place in 2006 where Aka Moon produced the project African Voices at the Brussels Operahouse. Also Oumou Sangaré (Mali), Marie Daulne (Belgium/Congo – Zap Mama) and M’shel Ndégéocello shared the stage with them for that occasion.

Since then Baba Sissoko appears as guest for Aka Moon in various projects. Here starts the dream of one day founding a collaboration between the ensemble Aka Moon and the Malian tama orchestra of Baba Sissoko, Black Machine.

Baba Sissoko selected seven of the finest ‘griots’ of Mali to form the first orchestra of Tamani: Black Machine. With their talking drum this group calls out to the world to communicate the force of music. They also sing and dance and that makes their performance as dynamic as their use of ritmes!

In January 2009 Fabrizio Cassol joins Baba Sissoko and his Black Machine for a week in Bamako to initiate this unique fusion of two (musical) worlds. In March 2009 Black Machine comes for the first time to Europe to encounter Aka Moon. Four days of intense rehearsals result in a series of mind-blowing concerts in Belgium. Thanks to the enormous enthusiasm of crowd and promoters five extra concerts are added to their list for the Summer of 2009 in Belgium, The Netherlands and Ireland. Where they even had an intervention with Toots Thielemans on stage!

The musicians transferred this enormous energy into a new album ‘Culture Griot’ - with legendary guitar player Philip Catherine as guest.


Aka Moon

Alto sax: Fabrizio Cassol | Fender bass: Michel Hatzigeorgiou| Drums: Stéphane Galland


Baba Sissoko

Tama, n’goni, kalemn’goni, voice


Black Machine

Tama, n’goni, calebasse and choir

Diatourou Sissoko, Yacouba Sissoko, Makan Cissoko, Adame Kouyate, Bazoumana Sissoko, Abdoulaye Dit Baba Sissoko, Djime Sissoko.


| About ‘Culture Griot’|

Aka Moon and Baba Sissoko with his group Black Machine bring us their Art through music of amazing strength and chants of a hypnotical nature. In the album ‘Culture Griot’, two universes intersect. We are inclined to be carried away, naturally, towards the unknown where boundaries become blurred. A process of coming together geographically and mentally.

Patiently, Aka Moon (initiating the project) and Black Machine (Baba Sissoko’s musicians), have conscientiously gotten to know each other and have weaved an unlikely fabric by mixing their craftsmanship and their originalities, by ensuring to prolong the chants, by not hesitating to provoke music in bold forms or harmonies unusual in the traditional “griot” culture.
To adapt, to transform, to merge keeping in mind respect and creation. With a free spirit.
The chants tell a story, the music intoxicates…or is it the opposite?
Culture Griot, thanks to its strength and its humanity, sustains the relations between Africa, Mali and the rest of the world. To refuse this extended hand would be like renouncing to be won over by the unexpected. To want to understand, to accept the encounter, to let us be surprised will make us grow no matter where we are. In Africa or elsewhere. (Didi


Aka Moon Private Tour


After years of touring the big international venues, Aka Moon is now seeking the cosy atmosphere of small clubs, bars or even living rooms. In December the trio will perform in some nice Belgian clubs. But to get even closer to the audience, Aka Moon is currently looking for ‘real life’ living rooms. In this comfy environments they will search new inspiration in order to record a new album in the fall of 2010. If you like to contribute to this creative process and invite them to your living room, please don’t hesitate to contact maaike@aubergine-am.com




Aka Moon & The Light Ship Tantra


Indian music has always been one of the cornerstones of the musical universe of Aka Moon. After playing with mridanga master U.K Sivaraman, Aka Moon now presents a new project with the Karnatic musicians Dr.Manjunath Mysore, Guruprasana and B.C. Manjunath.


Dr. Manjunath Mysore - Violin

Dr. Manjunath Mysore is considered as one of the best violinists in India today. His performance features an outstanding range of musical expressions from the deepest meditations to astonishing virtuosity with an extraordinary artistic imagination. Dr. Manjunath Mysore performed all over the world (Australia, Malaysia, Texas, Chicago, London, Paris, Italy) with innumerable performances in various prestigious concert stages to his credit.


Guruprasana - Kanjira

Guruprasana plays the South Indian frame drum: the kanjira. The kanjira or ganjira is an instrument of the tambourine family and primarily used in concerts of Karnatic music (South Indian classical music). It’s a comparatively recent innovation and only been used for fewer than 100 years.


B.C. Manjunath - Mridanga

B.C . Manjunath is the son of veteran Mridanga artist Karnataka Kalasree Vidwan B K Chandramouli. With his innate talent on the Mridanga, the two-headed drum, he had the chance to work with the most amazing musicians in the world.



Aka Moon & The Istanbul Express

Aka Moon + Ahmet Misirli & Levent Yildirim


For Istanbul Express Aka Moon will go in depth of the Turkish musical tradition with percussionists: Ahmet Misirli and Levent Yildirim. They are both masters of the darbuka: percussion instrument shaped like a vase. They are not only virtuosos on their instrument, but have also developed specific techniques to enlarge the scope of the darbuka as a percussion instrument.


Misirli Ahmet and Levent Yildrim are considered as the leaders of a new generation of darbuka players in the world. This new generation is inspired both by the Egyptian or Turkish tradition and by the technique of great Indian tabla masters, Ike Alla Rakha or Zakir Hussain. Therefore, they operate a synthesis of the two techniques which enrich the possibilities to infinity. The ornamentations are traditionally played by one hand while the basic rhythms are played by the other hand, where as with this new technique, both hands are equal. Beyond technical performance and the virtuoso aspect, the music is never forgotten.


Misirli Ahmet - the older brother - became famous for the invention of this new technique. He received the Master degree for his album ‘Natural Moments’ and was awarded the Leardership Summit Prize by Eduplus in 2006.

 

 

 

 

 

PAST PROJECTS

VSPRS Alain Platel

African Voices Opera house , Brussels

Aka Moon and DJs Bigband Grazzhoppa (12 djs), Jazz Middlehiem 2005, Banlieues Bleues 2006

Aka Moon and 600 Kids (2005) (Cirque Royal)

Journey to the Aka Pygmies in the Central African Republic and recording of their music in 1992 and playing with them in the Forest.

Aka Moon at the Kaai in Brussels. They performed every Wednesday during four years exploring new ways of improvisation.

"Aka Moon", 52' film by Richard Wandel, produced by RTBF (belgium tv)
Meeting with India (1993), recording in Bombay the music of Akasha, meeting with the Master of percussions Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman (1995), first concert with U.K Sivaraman at the Gaume Jazz fest (1996) and tour in the south of India (1998).

Aka Moon Drums project featuring Chander Sardjoe (drums), U.K Sivaraman,...

Aka Moon and Doudou N'Diaye Rose family.

Aka Moon Electric with Marc Ducret (guitar), Benoît Delbecq (keyboards), Kris Defoort, Eric Legnini,....

"Jeff Buckley on the Moon", project produced by the Opera house of Brussels (De Munt-1999) featuring David Linx, Marie Daulne, Kris Dane (vocals), David Gilmore, Marc Ducret,...

Collaboration with Fatou Traore dance company.

Composition, live performance and european tour of the music for Rosas dance company (Anne-Teresa De Keersmaeker), with TG Stan and 14 dancers. (2000)

Roles, composition and live performance in the Philippe Boesmans' opera "Wintermärchen". Recorded by Deutsche Grammophon. (2000)

Collaboration with Ictus ensemble, "Invisible Mother". (1999)

Aka Moon and Oriental Voices. Produced by the Opera of Brussels "De Munt" featuring David Linx, Santhanagopalan (vocal-south India), Miguel Cerro (vocal-flamenco), U.K Sivaraman. (2002)

Aka Moon "Cosmic Soul expression" with DJ Grazzhoppa.

Aka Moon "Guitars" with David Gilmore, Prasanna, Pierre Vandormael.

Aka Moon "10th Birthday Night" at the Halles of Schaerbeek with 30 musicians (2002). Featuring D. Linx, Steven Segers, D. Gilmore, Philip Catherine, Prasanna, El Hadji N'Diaye Rose, Eric Legnini, Kris Defoort, Dj Grazzhoppa,...

Aka Moon and Joe Lovano (2003)

Aulochrome Special project (2003), including the new François Louis's polyphonic instrument played by Fabrizio Cassol. Produced by the Opera of Brussels. With Magic Malik (flute) and Fabian Fiorini (piano).

Gaume Special project 2004 featuring Marc Turner, Robin Eubanks, Fabian Fiorini.



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AKA MOON PERFORMED IN...

 
Algeria: Dima jazz
Austria: Wiesen fest 93, Burgtheater-Vienna, Stadtkino-Salsburg
Belgium: Klinkende Munt, Jazz à Liège, Middelheim, Grand-place of Brussels, Gaume jazz, Botanique, opera De Munt, Kaaitheater, Vooruit, Singel, Cirque Royal, Palais des Beaux-Arts (bozar),....
Canada: Montréal jazz fest., Vancouvert jazz fest,...
Caribbean: Barbados jazz fest.
Colombia: jazz al Parke-Bogota.
Ethyopia: Addis Abeba
France: Théâtre de la Ville (Paris), Châtelet (Paris), Théâtre de la Bastille, Lyon Opera house, Hot Club de Lyon, Automne en Normandie dance fest., Grenoble jazz fest, Perpignan jazz fest, Sunset (Paris), Duc des Lombards (Paris), Festival Mimi (Marseille), Pannonica (Nantes), Crescent (Mâcon), Trabendo (Paris), Le Triton (Les Lilas)
Germany: Moers fest., Mousontum, Schauspielhaus, Frankfurt, Kampnagel-Hamburg, Hannover expo 2000, Hubeltheater-Berlin, München-Musica Viva 2002,...
Greece: Athena
India: Music Academy of Madras, Bombay, Indian tour 98,...
Ireland: Dublin jazz
Italy: Roma-Villa Ada, Cellimontana, Cluzone jazz, Biennal di Venezzia,..

Israel: Haifa, Nazareth
Luxemburg (G-D)

Morocco: Jazz aux Oudayas
Portugal: Lisbon CC Belem, Porto jazz,...
Palestine-Israel: Nazareth, Haifa
Republic of Central-Africa
Turkey: Ankara
Tunisia: Tabarka fest., Tunis.
Nederlandd: North Sea jazz, Tilburg jazz, Holland Dance fest 2000, Bimhuis, Karnatic lab (Amsterdam),...
Senegal: St. Louis jazz, Dakar.
Spain: Bam fest, San Sebastian jazz fest., Jaco Pastorius fest,....
Switzerland: Amr Geneva, Chorus (Lausanne),..
UK: London, Leeds, Burmingham.
USA: Kniting Factory New-York, CBGB
Viet-Nam