King Kora

Artist Information

Biography

Founded in 98 by the Gambian griot Lamin Jobarteh and the Swiss saxplayer Roger Greipl. Their powerful and original interpretations of the kora music has garnished them top 10 placement in the World Music Charts Europe, 4andahalf stars in Rolling Stone magazine, allowed them opportunities to play at some of the greatest festivals and has secured them a place in the international world music scene.
2 Tours in Gambia and Senegal in 2003 and 2007.

Instrumentation

Lamin Jobarteh - kora, voc
Jean-Claude Torko - bass
Max Ndiaye - perc
Roger Greipl - sax, voc
Brandy Butler - voc
Dan Suter - mix, effects

Discography

3 CDs: Name/Release/Label/Distribution

- King Kora/ 2001/ MakeUpYourWorld / Nation, Indigo, Nocturne, Hoanzn

- Bundung/2005/AYAM/Nation, Indigo, Hoanzn, Nocturne, Sambinha, CD Baby

- Mandingda/2009/AYAM/Nation, CD Baby

Most tracks from both albums had and have radio airplay and streaming (fRoots, Radio Multikulti, Funkhaus Europa, FMD, DRS3, Couleur3, BBC Swedish Radio and many many more)

Audio

• KELU KALABANTE
  Listen  
• DUNIA
  Listen  
• MARIAMA
  Listen  
• Mini Amba
  Listen  
• Sylla
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Jamba Sane
• Current Boy

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• World Music Charts Europe [+ Show ]
  

  Urban griot music for today... The heavy bass and drums rhythm section provide a sensous, powerful g...Urban griot music for today... The heavy bass and drums rhythm section provide a sensous, powerful groove which supports the vocal, instrumental and percussive meanderings of the rest of the band. Rock solid and well-recorded, it’s an effective blend of the griot tradition and the possibilities afforded by technology, and not a little thought and imagination in the compositions and arrangements. Stirring brass and rippling kora provide the icing on the cake.

• Worldmusicnet [+ Show ]
  

  Kora is king! In earlier times when kings ruled West Africa, the kora was the instrument which acco...Kora is king! In earlier times when kings ruled West Africa, the kora was the instrument
  which accompanied the royal storytellers. Now that the kings are dead or in early retirement, King Kora decided to sit the kora on the empty throne and to let it play with a joyful band of many colours. Calling KING KORA "multicultural" would be completely understated. All songs are like a filigree texture of various African styles, Latin, Arabic and reggae, melodious and rhythmic - and above all: the magic Kora. This is definitely something new!

• World Music Charts Europe [+ Show ]
  

  The wonderfully considered production and musical skills make this a smooth listening experience - m...The wonderfully considered production and musical skills make this a smooth listening experience - marimbas ripple and flow, koras (naturally) shimmer and syncopations abound. The merest hint of synth adds a contemporary flavour without overwhelming the material with fashion statements, and it's a resounding success that draws upon European influences in tandem with the smoky vocals of the Gambian backdrop. Kora player/vocalist Lamin Jobarteh is the leading light behind the project.

• World Music Special [+ Show ]
  

  King Kora - eine Band zwischen Westafrika und Helvetien Selten hat eine Band zwischen zwei Kulturen...King Kora - eine Band zwischen Westafrika und Helvetien
  Selten hat eine Band zwischen zwei Kulturen eine derart runde Synthese hingekriegt wie King Kora. Wahrscheinlich liegt es an der Kora - dieser sogenannten «Lautenharfe» aus Westafrika, deren Klängen man magische Eigenschaften nachsagt. Sie ist ja auch «King» in dieser Band. Gespielt vom Gambier Lamin Jobarteh, bekommt die Kora Gesellschaft von vier Schweizer Musikern und auf dem nagelneuen King Kora-Album auch von einigen spannenden Gästen wie der stimmgewaltigen Guineerin Maciré Sylla oder dem eidgenössichen Rapper Greis. Noch ausgereifter als das erste, dürfte «Bundung» wiederum vom “Rolling Stone» bis zu BBC 3 weit über die World Music Szene hinaus Fans begeistern.
  

• Vibrations 6/05 [+ Show ]
  

  KING KORA Bundung Ils réinventent la kora et les cuivres africains dans les Alpes, avec ardeur e...KING KORA
  Bundung
  
  Ils réinventent la kora et les cuivres africains dans les Alpes, avec ardeur et conviction
  
  L'alliance semblait improbable: d'un côté, un saxophoniste zurichois, de l'autre, un joueur de kora gambien. Un premier album prometteur enregistré dans les Alpes, puis ce second, franchement explosif, en provenance d'Engelberg, au coeur de la Suisse profonde. Inspiré par une tournée en Gambie et au Sénégal, King Kora resserre son discours et invite des musiciens aux parcours fort différents. Ainsi, la grande chanteuse guinéenne Maciré Sylla interprète deux morceaux bien plus intéressants que tout ce qu'elle a fait paraître jusqu'ici. Ansi, un rappeur bernois scande la légende africaine du serpent Mini Amba, une ami zurichoise d'origine tanzanienne s'empare du micro, et - miracle - ça fonctionne!
  Groupe à géométrie variable, King Kora maximise les interventions de chacun, renoue avec la grande tradition des cuivres africains et propose une musique africaine funky et moderne comme on aimerait en entendre plus souvent.

Setlist

120min repertoire. We normally play 1 set of 100min+ or 2 sets of 60min or 3 sets of.....

The repertoire consists of original tunes and rearrangements of griot (koraplayer) classics.

The songs (most of the you can find on our 3 CDs):

1. Nama
2. Tenemba
3. Nialing Koli
4. Kaira
5. Jurell
6. Wara
7. Current Boy
8. Jamba Sane
9. Mini Amba
10. Jamabarawara
11. Tumarankea
12. Gambia
13. Dunja
14. Jiurua
15. Kodi
16. Binta
17. Petit Saigon
18. Solo Savarigne
19. Jarabilé
20. Bani

Basic Requirements

Calendar