West African Kora / Fri Oct 9 / 6:30PM / Steele Room

Traditional Music of the West African Kora

with Sean Gaskell

Friday, October 9th at 6:30 PM in the Community Steele Room.

Sean performs traditional music and shares the history of this ancient 21-stringed harp from West Africa.

He learned to play over the course of multiple visits to Gambia and Senegal, where he studied with Malamini Jobarteh, Moriba Kuyateh, Youssoupha Cissokho and Mamadou Cissokho.

Sean says, “It is due to the continued support and encouragement of my teachers that I am able to present this music to audiences in the United States. My ongoing relationship with each of them inspires me to grow as a musician and human. The hospitality that I experienced with their extended families during my visits was truly remarkable.”

Sponsored by the Friends of the Waterbury Public Library, the program serves up a delightful fare of catchy instrumentals along with traditional Mandinka style playing and singing. The kora, a 21-stringed West African harp has a gourd bottom and is rich in tone and vibration. Along with his excellent playing, Gaskell delivers the history of the instrument and his personal journey of working and living with families in Gambia and Senegal, which he calls “life changing”. The Friends will be serving up authentic African goodies at the event. For all ages.

Listen to some of his music here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmM9Qysng_v9jqOV88rbL-A

https://www.facebook.com/reel/2122289608689714

From Roderic Knight- Retired Professor of Ethnomusicology, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH:

“Sean’s playing and singing are right-on when it comes to traditional Mandinka style. Very nice indeed!”