About

Kora player Salieu Suso (The Gambia) and guitarist Tomas Rodriguez (New York) first collaborated as part of a larger ensemble at a United Nations gathering honoring diplomats from Africa and Spain. Later, they realized that the guitar and kora were a natural fit, and began to explore creating a duo repertoire - drawing on influences from the Manding griot repertoire, contemporary flamenco guitar and other diverse influences - such as the arpa llanera music of Venezuela. This emerging project seeks to create an uncontrived, organic “conversation” between the two stringed instruments from different continents based on original compositions and arrangements.

Music

Our repertoire draws on a body of original compositions, that are influenced by flamenco, Venezuelan and West African sources, but designed as frameworks to contain the improvisation of the kora. We also draw on the traditional Manding kora repertoire - including pieces such as “Jarabi” and “Nanfoule”, but arranged according to our sound and aesthetic.

Videos

Audio