Sunday, April 7, 2013

The Simple Beauty of Regina Carter and Yacouba Sissoko

















Note the beatific countenance of Regina Carter.  I can't imagine anyone not being elevated to a similar state when they hear jazz violinist Carter and master kora player Yacouba Sissoko perform. 

About fifty people attended a free talk and demonstration about Carter's Reverse Thread project at the American Jazz Museum on Thursday, April 4. 

Carter proudly spoke of the degree in pedagogy earned by her grandmother in 1915.  After mentioning her interactions with members of the large community of African immigrants in her hometown of Detroit, she and Sissoko discussed the versatility of Malian musicians.  The pair have a unique sibling-like bond.

"I believe I was led to him," Carter said.

They also offered insights into their instruments.  Carter called her violin "my Walmart special."  Sissoko confessed that he uses "fishing lines" as his kora strings in the United States.  Working with African musicians like Sissoko, Carter said, allowed her to "learn to let the simple beauty shine."

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

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