CITYSHOWCASE.CO.UK

Jali Fily Cissokho

ArtForm: CityShowcase Act/Composer

www.myspace.com/jalifilycissokho

www.kaira-arts.co.uk

When you ask Fily how he became such an exponent of his music he replies "It's in my blood."

Virtuoso of the KORA (21 string African Harp) and praise Singer from Casamance, southern Senegal.  He is a Griot (Jali) hereditary musician/oral born into the famous ancestral Griot family, Cissokho.   Cissokho family are ancient musicians tracing their roots back to 12c Mali, where they advised and entertained the Kings of the great Mali Empire. Griot were thought to be all seeing and knowing holding the history of the Empire.

He was taught to play the KORA by his father and songs from his mother at age 6. Soon after he performed with his family members at local ceremonies.  At age 13 he formed his own group Coute Diomboulou. and later performed as solo artist throughout southern Senegal.

His compositions and skilful mixing of the rhythms of south and north of Senegal, took him to the capital Dakar, where he performed in a more commercial setting with other groups, fusing traditional skills with modern sounds.  First invited to UK/Europe-2002 tour with his wild electro-kora family band JALIKUNDA (Founder : Brother / SOLO CISSOKHO Winner BBC3 World Music Awards) featuring his nephew SECKOU KEITA

He returned to UK in 2003 to form KAIRA Arts company and in 2004, his new COUTE DIOMBOULOU BAND. 

He is now resident in Witney Oxon. Currently providing solo and group performances  and workshops on GRIOT music and culture.

His repertoire has now expanded whilst working with other musicians, showing his versatility as a performer and composer, able to cross boundaries from classical to rock with his extraordinary talent.

He has just finished a recording session with top Bollywood music producer and composer AR RAHMAN (DOUBLE OSCAR WINNER for SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE).

CD's PRODUCED
LINDIANE/ JALIKUNDA
Released 2003~Jalikunda Ltd sales:music@kaira-arts.co.uk
VOICE & KORA/ JALI FILY CISSOKHO
Released 2004~KAIRA sales:music@kaira-arts.co.uk
CD/DOUMAJOULO
Released 2007~KAIRA sale:music@kaira-arts.co.uk
NEW SOLO CD /N'FAMA /JALI FILY CISSOKHO
in preparation 2009/10

FILM
BBC2 Documentary Elephants~David Attenborough 2003                                                                                              
mix ~Will Gregory(Goldfrapp)
OBE TV(Sky digital Channel 204)2008
Documentary-International Roots Festival Gambia
http://www.obetv.co.uk
BBCE4 SKINS 2008
Kora composition for overdubbing new series February 2009

PERFORMANCES UK FESTIVALS include:
WOMAD, Glastonbury, Larmer Tree, Wychwood, Oxford FolkFest, TRUCK, Cornbury

WORK INCLUDES
Royal College of Music Manchester
Performance with Toumani Diabate
WOMAD
Collaboration with Bassekou Kouyate,Justin Adams, Juldeh Camara
Billy Cobham
Glastonbury Africa Express
with Baba Maal & Toumani Diabate
NorthWall Oxford (Oxford Contemporary Music & Music in Oxford)
Solo performance guest artist The Brodsky Quartet (with Tunde Jegede)
Christ Church Cathedral
Jali Fily Cissokho's Coute Diomboulou Band with guest Juldeh Camara

PAST MISC. EVENTS INCLUDES
Wellcome Trust Foundation Conference Oxford with Bill Gates
Solo performance
Opening of new Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre Oxford with Duchess of Cornwall
Solo performance
Opening of the Pitt Rivers Museum extension Oxford with Sir David Attenborough and Michael Palin
Solo performance

BENEFITS TO COMMUNITY INCLUDE
HOSPITAL
Performances contracted by Oxford Contemporary Music taking music for therapy to Nuffield Orthopaedic Hospital Headington Oxford
SPECIAL NEEDS
Workshop special needs primary school Basingstoke
Workshop special needs primary school Witney
Experimental work with SpecialEffect Dr Mike Donegan

QUOTES
TOUMANI DIABATE
" I just love Fily's voice. When he sings it's as if he is singing my kora back to me.  He understands my music because he is also a Griot and plays the kora."

CHARLIE GILLETT/BBC Radio3 The Sound of the World
Doumajoulo CD by UK-based kora player Jali Fily Cissokho passes all the tests, full of distinctive songs that are well-played and well-sung.

CON MURPHY / fROOTS (Roots Salad)
Doumajoulo CD-There's certainly a lot to admire on album tracks such as JALIA and UMBALAFEYLE TETAMBULO, but it's only when you hear them in concert that you can appreciate the full potential of the ensemble.

TIM HEALEY/Oxford Folk Festival
"Thank you for the CD. Perfect for a sunny Monday morning coming down from the festival.  Played it once – and played it straight through again.  A great album, full of warmth and depth and happy vibes."

SIMON COLLINGS/Oxford Times
Jali Fily Cissokho opens the Brodsky Quartet with Tunde Jegede North Wall Oxford.
"Jali Fily played several pieces on the kora the traditional harp-lute of West African music.  The performer creates an underlying rhythmic pulse overlaid with elaborate improvisations and this technique has clearly influenced Jegede's writing."

Biog as provided for City Showcase 2010