Made in Mannheim - Balla Balla

Description

Afrobeat, which winks at jazz, a world music beyond linguistic barriers and national borders, sweat-inducing and uplifting:
The six musicians of BallaBalla met in southern France, but originate from Ivory Coast and Germany. The centerpiece of their energetic original compositions is the balafon, a West African instrument similar to a xylophone; its distinctive sound, however, results from calabashes used as resonators. The balafon is the traditional accompanying instrument of the Griot poets, but has also found its way into modern African music – and it is here that BallaBalla draws its full, pearly sound to play in an equally rapid and clever manner.
BallaBalla presents this in an unconventional lineup: they juxtapose the balafon with a two-person horn section, whose sound is supported by bass and drums. This fireworks display is crowned with virtuosic percussion sounds that create a Latin American flair. A special feature of the group is that this playing is also the only language in which all members can communicate, as the six musicians speak French, German, and Spanish, but none of them speaks all three languages; the shared music overcomes the Babylonian confusion. Brahima Diabate is considered one of the best balafon players worldwide. In his Ivorian family, the playing and construction of this extraordinary instrument has been passed down through generations. His tirelessly virtuosic flow of playing knows no bounds. With his compositions, he lays the foundation for the driving melodies and harmonies of the band. Line-up:
Brahima Diabate - Balafon
Florian Schlechtriemen - Drums
Garrelt Sieben - Trombone
Janis Hug - Trumpet
Constantin Herzog - E-Bass
Peter Hinz - Percussion

Highlights

• Live concert by BallaBalla
• Unique balafon sounds
• Multicultural musicians from different countries

General Information

The concert by BallaBalla takes place at the Capitol Mannheim and offers an exhilarating mix of Afrobeat and jazz. The six musicians bring their cultural backgrounds together and create a unique musical experience that overcomes language barriers.

Location

Waldhofstraße 2, 68169 Mannheim, Germany

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