Bassekou Kouyate
Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni Ba
As a griot, Mali’s Bassekou Kouyate traces his musical lineage back to the wealthy West African empire founded by Sundiata Keita in the 13th century, when his ancestors entertained the royal court. Every note that he plays on the ngoni, a small four-string lute, embodies a tradition handed down for dozens of generations. But that’s not to say Kouyate is shackled to the past. Determined to enhance the music’s visibility, he assembled Ngoni Ba, an eight-piece group combining the energy of a rock band with the emphatic call-and-response choruses of a gospel ensemble. Looking to expand the ngoni’s harmonic range, he added additional strings and introduced a powerful new sound on 2007’s Segu Blue, which won a coveted BBC Radio 3 World Music Award. Last year he refined Ngoni Ba’s concept with the acclaimed I Speak Fula, an album showcasing ingenious orchestrations and the incantatory vocals of Amy Sacko, his wife and creative partner. Beyond Ngoni Ba, Kouyate has collaborated with pop luminaries U2 and Carlos Santana and played an essential role on recordings by African legends including Toumani Diabaté, Ali Farka Touré, Vieux Farka Touré and Youssou N’Dour.
Artist Personnel
Bassekou Kouyate
ngoni, ngoni ba
Oumar Barou Kouyate ngoni
Fousseyni Kouyate ngoni ba
Moussa Bah ngoni bass
Alou Coulibaly calebasse
Moussa Sissoko percussion
Amy Sacko vocals
Artist Website
Buy Tickets
YBCA Forum
Parking
Several parking garages are located within a block of YBCA.Public Transportation
On BART, Montgomery Street or Powell Street station. Muni Bus Lines:#5 Fulton, #9 San Bruno, #14 Mission, #15 Third, #30 Stockton, #38 Geary, and #45 Union Muni Metro Lines: J-Church, K-Ingleside, L-Taraval, M-Oceanview, N-Judah (use Montgomery Street or Powell Street station)Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible.> Ticket Policies
SFJAZZ Ticket PoliciesTicket RefundsTickets purchased for SFJAZZ concerts are non-refundable, except in the event of a cancelled performance. Refunds are then given in original form of payment. Per ticket and per order handling fees are non-refundable, with no exceptions. Ticket ExchangesTickets purchased for SFJAZZ concerts are non-exchangeable, except for members of SFJAZZ at the Contributor level ($120/year) and above. This valuable benefit of membership allows members to make ticket exchanges for concerts within the same season or to receive 'ticket credit' for purchasing tickets to a concert in a future season. Ticket credits can only be used for purchases made directly thru SFJAZZ (i.e. not available when purchasing thru Tickets.com). Ticket exchanges are accepted up to 24 hours prior to the performance. If you are a Contributor level member and have tickets you would like to exchange either for another concert or for ticket credit, then please mail the tickets back to SFJAZZ, or rip the tickets in half, photocopy the ripped tickets, discard the ripped tickets and fax the photocopy to (415) 398-5569. Please remember to include your phone number, email address and exchange instructions. Ticket ReplacementSFJAZZ is not responsible for lost or stolen tickets and is not obligated to replace/reissue lost or stolen tickets. Once tickets are purchased, paid and given/sent to the purchaser, they are the sole property and liability of the purchaser. Tickets for "General Admission" concerts cannot be reissued. If you have questions about lost or stolen tickets, please contact the Box Office. Ticket DonationsTickets to SFJAZZ concerts can be donated back to SFJAZZ as a tax-deductible contribution. Tickets donated by generous SFJAZZ patrons enable awaiting jazz fans to experience some incredible musical moments. And proceeds from tickets purchased or donated help provide funding for SFJAZZ concert programming and community-based jazz education. Donations are accepted in advance by phone/fax/in person no later than 24 hours prior to show time and in person at the concert venue box office up until scheduled show time. Only unused tickets may be submitted for donation. Donation acknowledgement letters from SFJAZZ will be sent out at the end of the concert season. Tickets for ChildrenSFJAZZ discourages audience members from bringing infants to concerts so as not to disturb the performers or other patrons (the one exception applies to family matinee concerts, where children of all ages are welcome). Non-infant children under two years of age do not need tickets to regular concerts and may sit on parents' laps. Children over two years are required to have a ticket for entry. For any ticket related inquiries, please contact the SFJAZZ Box Office by email or by phone at 415-788-7353. |
Listen
- Bassekou Kouyate
"I Speak Fula"
Watch
Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba — Live at G8
Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba — Live at Royal Albert Hall
