Note:  This event has been cancelled.

LOS ANGELES, CA – January 6, 2014 – Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz (TRK), the performance space at Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles, is pleased to present the World Kora Trio, a rare polycultural musical proposition rooted in western jazz traditions, on Wednesday, February 26, 2014.  The World Kora Trio, based in France, features American electric cellist Eric Longsworth, Malian kora player Chérif Soumano, and French singer-percussionist Jean-Luc Di Fraya. The group’s original jazz and folk compositions by Longsworth merge with the colors of African music, embodied by the kora. This will be the group’s U.S. debut; sponsored by Spedidam, Région Rhone Alpes, Fond de la Création Musicale, and The Canada Council for the Arts.  The performance starts at 7:30pm and will take place at Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz, 10361 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90064 (310-286-0553). Admission is $35 for adults and $25 for students. Tickets can be purchased here.  See more on TRK’s event page here.   For information about Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz, please visit www.theatreraymondkabbaz.com.

The World Kora Trio takes a polycultural approach to world music. Moved by a common desire for exploration and musical give-and-take, these three musicians, from diverse musical and cultural backgrounds, forge a cohesive sensibility to music that melds tradition and modernity. The group was born in a meeting between cellist Eric Longsworth and kora player Chérif Soumano at the Rochefort en Accords Festival in August 2010. Following this meeting, Longsworth invited singer and percussionist Jean Luc Di Fraya to join, further expanding the sonic palette of the trio. The effervescent dialogue between the three musicians is playful and dynamic, illustrating music as a universal, border-defying language.

World Kora Trio – “Kouma”
From Korazon
link:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNXxiZQ1zg0

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Soumano’s playing is strongly influenced by traditional music from Mali, in which the kora is historically a key instrument. At the same time, he has spent years playing rock, reggae, and jazz.  In jazz, Soumano has found an expression for his openness to other musical cultures and a wonderful outlet for his abilities as an improviser. Longsworth is one of those difficult-to-classify artists, who shapes unforgettable melodies with his electric cello. Influenced by his American roots, Longsworth approaches music like a storyteller. Equally at home within and without the large world of jazz, Longsworth enjoys exploring the emotion inherent in the music he performs. Versatile singer-percussionist Di Fraya, with his celestial voice, impels the trio towards a world of wide-open spaces. Di Fraya’s voice counterbalances the percussive attack of the kora, and interlaces with the cello for melodic counterpoint. While, at the same time, his percussion accentuates the rhythmic dynamic of the kora and cello.

In November 2011, the World Kora Trio was invited to return to Rochefort for an eight-day residency. After that, the three musicians recorded Korazon, the trio’s debut album, which was released in 2012. The album’s title is a play on words – Spanish for heart (corazon) as well as for the sound of the kora (kora son). Since the release of their first album, World Kora Trio has performed on stages around the world including France, Mexico (Eurojazz Festival), Africa, and Canada (Montreal Jazz Festival).

Kora –
The kora is a double-bridge harp-lute, typically made from a hollowed-out calabash gourd covered in animal skin. Usually, the instrument has 21 strings.  The sound of the kora resembles that of a harp, though when played in the traditional style, it resembles flamenco and delta blues guitar techniques. The player uses the thumb and index finger of both hands to pluck the strings in polyrhythmic patterns. Kora players generally come from griot families, who are traditional West African historians, genealogists and storytellers, who pass their skills on to their descendants.

Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz –
Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz (TRK) is a non-profit institution dedicated to the promotion of art and culture in the West Los Angeles area. This 220-seat theater welcomes multidisciplinary and multicultural shows. TRK’s mission is to be an open window on French and international cultures and to inspire and sustain a lifelong appreciation for the arts.

Links –
• Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz – www.theatreraymondkabbaz.com
• Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz on Facebook – www.facebook.com/pages/Theatre-Raymond-Kabbaz/43864706321
• Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz Event Page – www.theatreraymondkabbaz.com/2013/05/01/world-kora-trio
• World Kora Trio Facebook Page – www.facebook.com/worldtrio.kora
• World Kora Trio on Soundcloud – soundcloud.com/soumano

For more information, photos, to schedule an interview, or request tickets, please contact Green Galactic’s Lynn Tejada at 213-840-1201 or lynn@greengalactic.com.

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The World Kora Trio
(photo courtesy of TRK)