FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14
Time: 7:30pm - 9:00pm

Cost: $25 general admission

The creative alliance forged by Ablaye Cissoko and Volker Goetze began in 2001 as the two musicians rehearsed for a concert in Saint-Louis, Senegal. Despite any cultural barriers that separated them, the Senegalese singer/kora player and German-born trumpeter discovered they had much in common – both musically and personally. What began as an opening set for the legendary Youssou N'Dour with the African-European Jazz Orchestra has flourished into a lifelong partnership of profound importance. With Sira, or mermaid, Cissoko and Goetze perform a suite of songs that expresses a synergy born out of mutual respect, curiosity and admiration.

Stemming from a centuries-long line of poet griots, Ablaye Cissoko is a master storyteller who combines vocal power with his virtuosic abilities on the 21-stringed kora. Melody, rhythm and lyrics open up a world of personal reflection with each note he sings. With a subtlety unlike no other, Volker Goetze has revealed the emotional range of the trumpet to audiences around the world. An accomplished musician, he has carved his own voice into the contemporary jazz scene. Together, Cissoko and Goetze revel in their shared space of musical discovery, dialogue and delight.

Wine and champagne sales before the show.