The Great Peace

“Kaira Ba” (pronounced “KAI rah bah”) is a Mandinka phrase meaning “the great peace” or “peace and love.” The Mandinka belong to West Africa's largest ethno­linguistic group, the Mande. The flagship instrument of Diali Cissokho & Kaira Ba is the kora, a 21­ or 22­stringed bridge­harp from West Africa. The strings of the kora are made of fishing line and they resonate through a large, halved gourd stretched with a cowhide. Traditionally, the kora is played by Mandinka Jalis and Mande Jelis (“griots” in French), members of a special caste of society that work as musicians and oral historians. They are walking libraries of information and history; artisans of speech and sound. Diali Keba Cissokho was born into a griot family who can trace their musical roots back over many generations. Diali can name for you nineteen grandfathers who played kora and sang. His own father began teaching him the family instrument at the tender age of five.

Diali Cissokho & Kaira Ba is:

Diali Keba Cissokho: Kora, Lead Vocals, Sabar
John Westmoreland: Electric and Acoustic Guitar
Jonathan Henderson: Upright and Electric Bass, Bass VI, Dunduns
Austin McCall: Drum Set, Dunduns, Percussion
Will Ridenour: Djembe, Sabar, Congas, Percussion
Mame Cheikh Njigal Dieng: Sabar, Thiol

Recorded by Jason Richmond at Fidelitorium Recordings in Kernersville, NC in October 2013. Mixed by Jason Richmond. Additional tracking done by Jason Richmond at SoundPure in Durham, NC and by Steve Vertigan at Soggy Dog Recording in Upwey, Victoria, Australia. Mastered by Gavin Lurssen at Lurssen Mastering in Hollywood, CA. Horn arrangements by Jonathan Henderson with assistance from Jim Henderson and Kaira Ba. Packaging design and layout by Cherie Westmoreland.

Additional Musicians:
Hilary Stewart Cissokho: Backing Vocals on Alanole, Mbolo, Balla Gueye, Mère Khadi, Talibe
Jim Henderson: Alto and Tenor Saxophone on Mbolo, Balla Gueye, Al Hadji
Quran Karriem: Trombone on Mbolo, Balla Gueye, Al Hadji
Zack Rider: Trumpet on Mbolo, Balla Gueye, Al Hadji
Gabriele Pelli: Accompanying and Solo Violin on Alanole
Jim Westmoreland: Accompanying Violin on Alanole
Mark Simonsen: Organ on Bamba Wotena

All songs written, produced and © 2014 by Diali Cissokho & Kaira Ba