Music
Press
In the March 2006 issue of Rolling Stone Magazine picked "Shalom/Salaam", co-written by Youssoupha Sidibe, as one of the two "key tracks" selected on the Grammy nominated album, Youth of Matisyahu, for one of the three best reaggae album.
Youssoupha Sidibe
Xelcom (Self-released, 2008)
Senegal’s Youssoupha Sidibe has played his kora (21-stringed West African harp) alongside artists as varied as Matisyahu, Bela Fleck, India Arie and Midnite, but on this meditative release he’s put aside crossovers and dug deep into his African roots. Xelcom consists of six lengthy tracks on which the kora typically establishes a softly attention-grabbing tone before settling into swaying riffs joined by Sidibe’s hushed but from-the-gut singing and occasional percussion.
All the vocal and instrumental sounds heard here are those of Sidibe, who’s not looking to blow anyone away with his kora virtuosity though it’s clear he could do so. Rather, he’s made a stripped-down album of spiritual music close to his own heart and likely to create a stirring in yours. Heavenly.
WORLD MUSIC CENTRAL.
Midnite & Youssoupha Sidibe
For All
(Sacred Sound)
Since receiving their last album, Infinite Quality, earlier this year, I’ve had the St. Croix-based reggae band Midnite on heavy iPod rotation. I was surprised upon receiving yet another album, even more so seeing it is a collaboration with Senegalese Sufi kora player Youssoupha Sidibe, who has worked alongside the likes of Michael Franti and Matisyahu. Then again, it shouldn’t be surprising — Midnite frontman Vaugh Benjamin knows that music is a sacrament; his music has long been in tribute to the most high. For All proves no different. Benjamin’s voice is unforgettable; Sidibe, when he does sing, is equally dynamic and calming. And it is a calm album, even with the lightning flicks of his fingers on that African stringed instrument. The musical relationship, one that was formed just over a year ago at a northern California festival, was an artistically intelligent and sonically gorgeous choice. The kora slides into the down tempo and bass-heavy bottom easily, adding a floating quality often supplied by synthesizers or guitars. It is, moreover, a re-rooting of reggae in its cultural bedrock: the earth and energy of Africa.
— D.B.
CONSCIOUS CHOICE. APR. MAY./09
Master of the kora (African harp), Senegal's Youssoupha Sidibe has taken his West African music into a number of realms, collaborating with an array of non-African artists and receiving praise and acclaim for his talents. Sidibe began his music career more than 20 years ago, studying kora at the National Music Conservatory in Senegal. He combined the lilting, angelic sounds of the kora with the Sufi chanting of the Senegalese Baay Faal community.
Tonight, Sidibe performs in a trio with drums and bass, floating his beautiful kora solos and deeply soulful vocals over the Mystic Rhythms Band's high-energy, trance-inducing dance grooves.
Sidibe has been booked at prominent festivals and venues such as the world's largest music festival, Music Fest; the African Festival of the Arts in Chicago, the world's largest African festival; the main stage of Reggae Rising; Earthdance; the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival; and the Warfield Theatre. His kora artistry was featured on Jewish reggae star Matisyahu's hit CD, "Youth," which was nominated for a 2007 Grammy Award. He has also collaborated with such diverse artists as Spearhead's Michael Franti, bluegrass-fusion banjo ace Bela Fleck, singer India.Arie, and Vaughn Benjamin from Midnite, the immensely popular St. Croix reggae band, which recently released Youssoupha Sidibe and Midnite's "For All."
Sidibe's "Sacred Sound" approach to music is presented not only as a link to the ancient griot tradition of his homeland, but also as relevant for today's world. He brings Senegal, Africa with him wherever he goes.
SAN FRANCISCO GATE MAR/09
- Rolling Stone Magazine
Discography
Shalom/Salaam single, Grammy nominated YOUTH album from Matisyahu 2006
For All - collaboration with Midnite
Xelcom 2000/2008
Sunugal, release in 2002
Sacred Sound 2007
What I Be- Book & CD project with Michael Franti
UPCOMING RELEASE:
Album with the legendary Charles Neville from the Neville Brothers produced by Youssoupha Sidibe.
Photos
Bio
The music of Youssoupha Sidibe is deeply infused with a longing for the full realization of divine love in this world. Youssoupha's musical career began over twenty years ago in his home of Senegal, West Africa. His music fuses traditional West African sounds on the Kora, with the Sufi devotional chanting of the Senegalese Baay Faal community. The angelic sounds of the Kora, an indigenous harp, soulfully carry Youssoupha's heartrending devotional lyrics.
Since his arrival on the international music circuit, Youssoupha has recorded, performed, and/or collaborated with artists such as India Arie, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Charles Neville, Future Man, Michael Franti and Spearhead, and Matisyahu. His latest collaboration, "Shalom/Salaam", was with artist Matisyahu, on the album entitled "Youth". "Youth" also contains an additional track, "Ancient Lullaby", which features Youssoupha on Kora. Rolling Stone magazine picked "Shalom/Salaam" as one of the two "key tracks" on the album. Since it's release, "Youth" has gone Gold, and in January 2007, the album was nominated for a Grammy award for best reggae album of the year.
With Michael Franti, Youssoupha collaborated on "What I Be" a book and CD project, that features a read-along CD that contains a hip hop and African musical collage of the story featuring the voices of Michael, his son Ade Franti-Rye, and Youssoupha Sidibe singing in his home language of Wolof and playing the kora.
Youssoupha's music has served to invoke the divine through Sufi sound in the presence of many large and diverse groups of people. Youssoupha has performed, recorded, and led healing music workshops throughout the United States, Europe, and Africa. He has graced the stages of many notable venues such as Reggae on the River, Manhattan Center, Earthdance World Peace Festival, Sierra Nevada World Music Festival, The Warfield Theatre, African Festival of the Arts-Chicago and many more.
His music is inspiring and empowering for people of all ages. The sound of the Kora beautifully blends with the powerful human emotion and faith that Youssoupha embodies. His latest solo kora recording Xelcom and his debut recording Sacred Sound bring a new dimension to the celebration of humankind.
A collaboration entitled FOR ALL is now available. The album was recorded with MIDNITE, one of the greatest reggae bands today. Midnite is based in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, where the recording was made over a month long period. This is a historical, groundbreaking, collaboration between the African musical tradition and the Caribbean reggae.
Youssoupha is currently touring in support of his new album Xelcom released on his own label: Sacred Sound.
Youssoupha's sound creates an experience that unites all cultures through the power of music.
A blessed experience.
" Your performance brought together many students who would not normally interact on this campus... everyone was dancing together-despite vast social, economic, and political differences. As far as I'm concerned, that is the hallmark of a great event"
Matt Landa, Director of student Activities, Simon's Rock College.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
EARTHDANCE, music Festival 06, Main stage solo act,
REAGGAE ON THE RIVER, 06, Main stage, special guest appearance,
HAMMERSTEIN BALLROOM, Manhattan special guest of Grammy nominated Matisyahu
WARFIELD THEATRE, San Francisco, CA
MUSIKFEST, Bethlehem Pennsylvania
CALVIN THEATRE, Northampton Mass,
OREGON COUNTRY FAIR,
SONO ARTS FESTIVAL, Norwalk CT.
CHARLEMONT REAGGAE FESTIVAL, Mass.
EASTHAMPTON SUMMER FEST, Mass
FESTIVAL OF ARTS & IDEAS, New-Haven,
FETE DE LA MUSIC, Senegal West AFRICA,
NORTHAMPTON CENTER FOR THE ART, Northampton,
UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII, Ohahu,
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON, Ashland,
CAMBRIDGE WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL, Boston,
MOUNT HOLYOKE COLLEGE, Mass,
INDIGENOUS PLANET Music Fest, Tennesse,
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS
PEARL STREET MUSIC HALL, Northampton Mass,
IRON HORSE MUSIC HALL, Northampton Mass,
LAHAINA CIVIC CENTER, Maui Hawaii,
SIMONS ROCK COLLEGE, MASSACHUSETTS
NEIGHBORHOOD MUSIC SCHOOL, New haven CT.
GREENFIELD ENERGY PARK FEST. Mass.
GREENFIELD COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Mass.
AND MANY MORE.....
Youssoupha's performances and healing workshops are inspiring and empowering for people of all ages. The sound of the Kora seamlessly blends with the powerful human emotion and faith that Youssoupha embodies. His Sacred Sound brings a new dimension to the celebration of humankind.
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