Trio Da Kali & Kronos Quartet's New Album 'Ladilikan' Out Today

The new album represents a landmark in cultural cross-fertilization and David Harrington, who founded Kronos Quartet in 1973, remarks that the album is "one of the most beautiful Kronos has done in forty years." On first hearing their signature griot sound being played by two violins, viola and cello, Trio da Kali's Fodé Lassana Diabatéproclaimed, "This is going to be the best collaboration of my life."

All three Da Kali members come from hereditary musical families and were brought together as a griot super group by Dr. Lucy Duran on behalf of the Aga Khan Music Initiative (AKMI), which has an admirable track-record of commissioning and producing a variety of projects involving traditional musicians. Balafon player and musical director Lassana Diabaté was a long-time member of Toumani Diabate's Symmetric Orchestra and has recorded with Salif Keita, Taj Mahal and many others. A musician of great subtlety and invention, he has honed a virtuoso two-balafon technique to perfection. Bass ngoni player Mamadou Kouyaté is the eldest son of the instrument's greatest exponent, Bassekou Kouyaté and he holds down the groove in his father's band Ngoni ba. He is also involved in the thriving Bamako hip-hop scene. Singer Hawa 'Kassé Mady' Diabate is the daughter of Mali's greatest traditional singer, Kassé Mady Diabate, and the power, range and phrasing of her voice led Harrington to compare her to the late queen of American gospel, Mahalia Jackson.

The Kronos Quartet, composed of Harrington and John Sherba on violin, Hank Dutt on viola, and cellist Sunny Yang have built an enviable reputation as the world's most adventurous string quartet. Known for their commitment to continually re-imagining the string quartet experience, Kronos have released over 60 records of extraordinary breadth and creativity and they are no strangers to collaborations with some of the world's foremost composers and artists. For this project, Kronos turned to the American composer and their frequent collaborator Jacob Garchik to arrange Trio da Kali's repertoire. Combining the spirit of fearless exploration with expert craftsmanship and skill, Trio Da Kali's original repertoire has been taken on a fascinating journey, giving a new voice to timeless sounds.

Trio Da Kali was created by the Aga Khan Music Initiative, a programme
of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture