“African music in America at its very finest! An all-star group.” -NPR's Afropop Worldwide
In the Bambara language of West Africa, Benyoro means meeting place, and that’s exactly what this group is. It’s about the meeting of traditional and modern instruments, African and American musicians, and centuries-old songs and modern arrangements. The band members hail from exotic locales such as Mali, Martinique, and Wisconsin, but what brings them together is a shared love, respect, and understanding of the music of the jelis (praise musicians) of West Africa, as well as a desire to modernize it.
Having developed a reputation for energetic live shows that fill dance floors, Benyoro is finally making an album. The album features core band members Yacouba Sissoko (kora), Sam Dickey (guitar), Patrice Blanchard (bass), Andy Algire (drums), Idrissa Koné (talking drum), and Luke Quaranta (djembe). Extraordinary guest vocalists Bébé Camara, Tapani Sissoko, and Awa Sangho will also be featured. The results of so many world-class musicians collaborating on this album has so far been absolutely stunning!
The purpose of this campaign is to raise funds to help complete the album. This includes studio rental and musician fees for additional recording time, as well as mixing, mastering, artwork, and manufacturing. In return, contributors will receive a variety of perks, including digital downloads or hard copies of the album, Skype lessons or interviews with band members, free admission to Benyoro shows, and even special producer credits on the album itself (not to mention the band’s undying love and gratitude)! This is a flexible funding campaign, so even if the goal is not met, any contributions will be put to good use in completing this project.
This album promises to be a definitive statement on where and how West African music exists today, moving into a global sphere where native and foreign performers interact to create something new. While this process involves a great number of diverse bands, what sets Benyoro apart is the degree of understanding between the African and non-African members of the band. Years living in the U.S. have given Yacouba Sissoko and Idrissa Koné a flexibility that many of their compatriots lack, while years of studying and playing the music of West Africa have given the other members of the band a deep grounding in the region's musical traditions. This is where the band’s name comes from. It provides a space where those who share a musical understanding can create together, regardless of where they were born.
Contribute what you can, and PLEASE pass this campaign on!
