Tamala Quartet \"Diboli\"

The group Tamala (“travelers”) explores, true to its name, the infinite possibilities of the encounter between the instruments and musical worlds of the trio. Driven by a natural musical alchemy, the musicians of Tamala effortlessly oscillate between tradition and innovation, power and subtlety, dream and reality. On their third album Diboli, Tamala officially declares itself a quartet with harmonica player/guitarist Olivier Vander Bauwede as new reinforcement. Diboli, the village on the border between Senegal and Mali where Mola Sylla’s ancestors come from, symbolizes the connection with the past. The album is therefore a tribute to all musicians whose names have mostly vanished from the memory of history, each contributing to the rich West-African musical traditions. By extension, it stands for all ancestors who in their own way contributed to the development of humanity. It is this spiritual connection with the past in a contemporary context that every note on the album exudes. Musically, Tamala shows its most versatile side here. There is, of course, the powerful voice of Mola Sylla. He not only leaves you breathless until the very last note, but he also surprises you with an astonishing range of self-made instruments. Kora virtuoso Bao Sissoko distinguishes himself not only as a gifted, groove-sensitive soloist, but also as a composer. On violin, the versatile Wouter Vandenabele adds a contemporary European touch, while Olivier Vander Bauwede provides a bluesy feel with the help of his harmonica, making Tamala more than the sum of its parts.