A Musical Bridge Between Mali and the Midwest

  • West African kora master Ballaké Sissoko and American flutist Nicole Mitchell collaborate on ‘Bamako*Chicago Sound System’
  • The album explores connections between Malian and US black musical traditions
  • Innovative use of the kora instrument with an extra string
  • Ensemble formed after a 2014 residency in Paris, toured in 2014-2015, and recorded in 2017
  • Nine tracks feature compositions from both Sissoko and Mitchell, blending traditional Malian lyrics with jazz and improvisations

West African kora master Ballaké Sissoko and American flutist Nicole Mitchell come together on their new album, ‘Bamako*Chicago Sound System’, blending traditional Malian music with jazz and improvisations. The ensemble was formed after a residency in Paris in 2014 and has since toured Europe and recorded in Chicago in 2017. The nine tracks feature compositions from both musicians, combining traditional Malian lyrics with innovative instrumentals. This cross-cultural collaboration explores the connections between black musical traditions of Mali and the US.

Album Cover: https://www.nytimes.com/media/2021/09/27/arts/music/2021-09-27-bamako-chicago-sound-system.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&width=1400&height=788&format=jpeg&resize=1200
Album Description: ‘Bamako*Chicago Sound System’ is a unique fusion of West African and American music, blending traditional Malian melodies with jazz and improvisations. The album features compositions from both Ballaké Sissoko and Nicole Mitchell, showcasing their individual styles while creating a musical bridge between the two cultures.
Factuality Level: 9
Factuality Justification: The article provides accurate and informative information about the ‘Bamako*Chicago Sound System’ album by Nicole Mitchell and Ballaké Sissoko’s ensemble. It describes the background of each musician, their musical styles, and how they came together as a group. The article also discusses the cultural influences and collaborations in their music, as well as the individual contributions of each member. The writing is clear and focused on the main topic without any unnecessary digressions or personal opinions presented as facts.
Noise Level: 3
Noise Justification: The article provides a detailed description of the music and musicians involved in the ‘Bamako*Chicago Sound System’ album, highlighting their backgrounds, influences, and individual styles. It also discusses the cross-cultural collaboration between Nicole Mitchell and Ballaké Sissoko’s ensemble. While it does not delve into any major controversies or provide significant analysis of long-term trends or consequences, it offers a balanced view of the musicians’ contributions to the album and their unique fusion of musical styles.
Private Companies: FPE Records
Key People: Ballaké Sissoko (Kora master), Nicole Mitchell (Flutist), Fassery Diabaté (Balafon player), Jeff Parker (Electric-guitar player), Joshua Abrams (Bass player), JoVia Armstrong (Hand-drum player), Fatim Kouyate (Vocalist), Mankwe Ndosi (Vocalist), Joan Beard Mitchell (Painter)

Financial Relevance: No
Financial Markets Impacted: No
Financial Rating Justification: The article discusses the release of a new music album ‘Bamako*Chicago Sound System’ by an ensemble of musicians from Mali and the United States, exploring connections between black musical traditions from both countries. However, it does not have any direct impact on financial markets or companies.
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: No
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: No
Extreme Rating Justification: The article discusses a musical ensemble and their new release, with no mention of any extreme events occurring in the last 48 hours.·
Move Size: No market move size mentioned.
Sector: All
Direction: Up
Magnitude: Small
Affected Instruments: Stocks

Reported publicly: www.wsj.com