Aka Moon + Baba Sissoko & Black Machine

Fabrizio Cassol (sax), Michel Hadzigeorgiou (bass), Stéphane Galland (drums) Baba Sissoko (Tama, n’goni, kalemn’goni, vocals) Black Machine (Tama, n’goni, calabash and choir): Diatourou Sissoko, Yacouba Sissoko, Makan Cissoko, Adame Kouyate, Bazoumana Sissoko, Abdoulaye Dit Baba Sissoko, Djime Sissoko.

Aka Moon is rock-solid trio that’s able to develop an incredibly exciting sound. Short, powerful melodies and themes surface above stirring rhythmic patterns. Aka Moon is known for its passion for rhythms. This time they’ll be working together with the Malian master, Baba Sissoko, and his Black Machine.

Aka Moon is the sum of three fantastic musicians, three free spirits who quench their thirsts at various sources. Their roots lie in Liege and Brussels although alto saxophonist Fabrizio Cassol has Italian roots. He studied in Liege in the beginning of the eighties at the Academy of Music that at the time was a true musical laboratory. First there was Trio Bravo (1984-1992) that he founded with drummer Michel Debrulle and trombone and tuba player Michel Massot. With the late guitarist Pierre Van Dormael he formed Nasa Na, an extremely adventurous band.

Aka Moon came into being in 1992. The name refers to a meeting the musicians had with the Aka pygmies of Central Africa. Meetings are the thread running through the work of Aka Moon. They got together with Steve Coleman from Brooklyn, travelled to India and worked with the renowned dance groups, Rosas and Les ballets C de la B. There was also the Senegalese percussionist Doudou N’Diaye Rose, the Belgian hip-hop pioneer DJ Grazzhoppa and his DJ Big band.

The most recent meeting was with Baba Sissoko from Mali and his Black Machine. They first worked together during African Voices in the Brussels’ Muntschouwburg. Baba Sissoko is a master on tamani (the original talking drums). He originates from a dynasty of griots from Mali or African social commentators and healers with music. He can play a whole arsenal of instruments and sings. Sissoko is open for other music. He worked together with such musicians as Rokia Traore, Ibrahim Ferrer, The Buena Vista Social Club, Don Moye and The Art Ensemble of Chicago, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Omar Sosa, Chris Joris and Bob Stewart. In March last year they toured Europe for the first time. They also released an album, ‘Culture Griot’, on which guitarist Philip Catherine also played. Worlds fuse together on the album.

Aka Moon and Baba Sissoko create music and song from which emanates a nearly hypnotic strength. They have taken their time to get to know each other. They combine their skills and didn’t hesitate to throw challenges in each other’s path. The result is powerful music with harmonies that were unusual for the traditional ‘griot’. The songs tell a story and the music is infectious. It is intense music with overpowering rhythms, penetrating saxophone lines, beautiful melody lines, lovely singing and the characteristic grooves of Aka Moon.