A FREE EVENT featuring MAMADOU DIABATE 

 “…sparkling technique… compelling rhythmic groove… flair for making this ancient instrument sound as though it was invented yesterday… – ROOTSWORLD

 Mamadou Diabate was born in 1975 in Kita, a Malian city long known as a center for the arts and culture of the Manding people of West Africa. Mamadou comes from a family of griots, or jelis as they are known among the Manding. Mamadou has played with the greatest world and jazz musicians including jazz luminaries Donald Byrd and Randy Weston, Zimbabwean legend Thomas Mapfumo, and blues masters Eric Bibb and Guy Davis. Mamadou Diabate’s first solo album was nominated for a Grammy. He now proudly releases his next solo album in Australia – DOUGA MANSA. Diabate says: “Douga Mansa means King Vulture. The symbol of the vulture in my culture means patience.” Mamadou’s technical virtuosity and innovative approach have kept him in high demand internationally.

RASA DUENDE

Openers for Sydney Festival 2010  RASA DUENDE is Adrian McNeil a virtuoso of the sarod who has earned recognition as one of Australia’s finest performers and expert authorities in this field and British-born tabla master Bobby Singh is one of the most sought-after musicians on the world music circuit. Adrian and Bobby are joined by Flamenco guitarist Damian Wright to present a sublime musical menu combining the passionate flavours of Hindustani and Flamenco music.

For more info head to www.thestreet.org.au