Aly Keïta comes from a Malinke griot family from the Ivory Coast and is a master of the balafon, the African xylophone. The musician from Côte d'Ivoire settled in Europe years ago and has since played with a number of jazz celebrities, from keyboarder Joe Zawinul to Norwegian saxophonist Jan Garbarek.
Aly Keïta's music comes into its own in a trio with drummer Lucas Niggli and clarinettist/saxophonist Jan Galega Brönnimann. The two Swiss musicians were born in Cameroon and have known each other since childhood. Their first successful album "Kalo Yele" was released in 2016. They give concerts and go on tour. During this time, they have refined and perfected their music.
The new album "Kalan Teban" shimmers in even more vibrant colors. Hypnotic drum music made up of dense balafon melody patterns, Aly Keïta's vocals, the grooves of the drums and expansive improvisational arcs from the saxophone or clarinet make "Kalan Teban" a trance-like listening experience.
