Ballaké Sissoko
One of the modern-day masters of his instrument, Ballaké Sissoko is a Malian kora player known for his instrumental innovation and numerous collaborations outside of West African music. He first rose to international success alongside fellow kora master Toumani Diabaté on the 1999 album New Ancient Strings, then spent the next two decades forging cross-cultural connections with musicians from around the globe. He is a member of the world music trio 3MA and has made several albums with frequent creative partner, classical cellist Vincent Ségal, including 2015's enchanting Musique de Nuit. His 2021 album Djourou was another diverse affair that traversed rock, hip-hop, and classical. In 2023, he and Ségal teamed up with Frenchmen Vincent Peirani and Émile Parisien on the subtly dazzling Les Egarés.
Ballaké's father, Djelimady Sissoko, was a Gambian kora master who moved to Mali and joined the national orchestra. Born in 1968, Ballaké followed in the griot tradition of his father and began training on the instrument at a young age. When his father died in 1981, he took his place in the Ensemble Instrumental National du Mali, though he was only 13. Over the next two decades, Sissoko got attention as a performer and collaborator and began his recording career in partnership with cousin and fellow kora master Toumani Diabaté on the 1999 album New Ancient Strings. The following year, he released the solo-billed album Déli, which featured his wife, the vocalist Mama Draba.
Then based in Paris, Sissoko's collaborative nature and adventurous spirit led him to work with a variety of musicians, including Italian classical pianist Ludovico Einaudi on 2003's Diario Mali and singer Rokia Traoré on 2005's Tomora, which saw him again teaming up with Diabaté. He also formed the group 3MA with Moroccan oud player Driss el Maloumi and Madagascan valiha player Rajery, who released an album in 2008. With 2009's Chamber Music, Sissoko established yet another ongoing collaboration, this time with French cellist Vincent Ségal. On Sissoko's next solo LP, 2013's At Peace, Ségal acted as producer, and in 2015 the two reunited for another duo album, Musique de Nuit. Released in April 2021, Djourou featured a typically eclectic array of guests, from French pop singer Camille to Malian rapper Oxmo Puccino. Recorded during this same period, A Touma saw Sissoko working entirely alone. Consisting of eight solo kora pieces, the tranquil collection was recorded in a single afternoon and released that September, just five months after Djourou. The artist's next project, a four-way collaboration with Ségal, accordionist Vincent Peirani, and saxophonist Émile Parisien, was another genre-averse effort that flirted with jazz, chamber music, folk, and avant-garde without adhering to any of them. Virtuosic and occasionally playful, Les Egarés appeared in early 2023.
© Jason Birchmeier & Timothy Monger /TiVo
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Discography
21 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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Les Égarés
Ballaké Sissoko, Vincent Ségal, Emile Parisien Quartet, Vincent Peirani
Jazz - Released by No Format! on 31 Mar 2023
24-Bit 88.2 kHz - Stereo -
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Chamber Music
Ballaké Sissoko, Vincent Ségal
Africa - Released by No Format! on 12 Oct 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Musique de nuit
Ballaké Sissoko, Vincent Ségal
Africa - Released by No Format! on 4 Sep 2015
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
At Peace
Africa - Released by No Format! on 15 Oct 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
New Ancient Strings
Toumani Diabaté, Ballaké Sissoko
World - Released by Chrysalis Records on 22 Jun 1999
The Qobuz Essential Discography16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Diario Mali
Ludovico Einaudi, Ballaké Sissoko
Classical - Released by Decca (UMO) (Classics) on 15 Oct 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Fire Inside
Ballaké Sissoko, Piers Faccini
Folk - Released by No Format! on 21 Oct 2022
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Le son de soie
Fang Liu, Allá, Ballaké Sissoko, Henri Tournier
World - Released by Accords Croisés on 1 Jan 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Nan Sira Madi - A COLORS SHOW
Pop - Released by COLORSxSTUDIOS on 12 Jul 2021
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Banja
Ballaké Sissoko, Vincent Ségal, Emile Parisien Quartet, Vincent Peirani
Jazz - Released by No Format! on 1 Feb 2023
24-Bit 88.2 kHz - Stereo -
Jeu sur la symphonie fantastique 2
Africa - Released by No Format! on 23 Jun 2021
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ninkoy
Ballaké Sissoko, Derek Gripper
World - Released by Platoon on 12 Apr 2024
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
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Diario Mali
Ludovico Einaudi, Ballaké Sissoko
Classical - Released by Decca (UMO) (Classics) on 15 Oct 2003
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Ballaké Sissoko & Derek Gripper
Ballaké Sissoko, Derek Gripper
World - Released by Platoon on 10 May 2024
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Basle
Ballaké Sissoko, Derek Gripper
Classical - Released by Platoon on 26 Apr 2024
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Tara
Nicole Mitchell, Ballaké Sissoko
Jazz - Released by FPE Records on 27 Mar 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo