SINALY PAPUS DIABATÉ & Kanouya Band "Kara Bara" Sinaly Papus Diabaté, known as "Papus" (pah-peace) was born into a family or musicians in Mali, West Africa and began his study of the drum and guitar at the age of seven. Papus plays many traditional Malian instruments, including balafon (African gourd-marimba), djun-djun (Mali bass drum), djembe (goat-skin, hand drum), bondialan (goat-skin stick drum), and Mande style guitar. He is the son of internationally renowned guitarist and percussionist, Zani Diabaté of the Super Djata Band. Papus has grown up surrounded by the best musicians in Bamako, Mali. His first CD "Kara Bara" (Bambara for "Hard Work") features some of Bamako's star musicians, including: Zani Diabaté (his father) tracks 3+4+8, Zoumana Téréta (violinist for Oumou Sangaré) tracks 3+4, & Madou Faraba Sylla (master drummer) track 3. In addition to these traditional musicians of Bamako, this CD features American artists Lindsey Schust (composer/singer/multi-instrumentalist) and Grace Schust (artist/percussionist/singer) on track 9, "Yiriba ye". This single was featured on the National Radio of Mali in Bamako. Lindsey arranged the vocals for Yiriba ye with modern harmonies and an American, world beat flavor. The track features Papus' stellar guitar playing, Swiss harpsichord played by Lindsey, and vocals by Grace and Lindsey Schust. Yves Wernert recorded tracks 1-8 in Studio Bogolan in Bamako, Mali. Track 9 was recorded in Switzerland by Caleb Cressman with vocals recorded and mastered in New Hampshire by Lindsey Schust. This recording project was sponsored and produced by Timbre Drums, a Schust family-business, based in Andover, New Hampshire. Timbre Drums is a drum building company that also produces workshops and ongoing classes with Master drummers from West Africa. Timbre Drums is currently working to bring Sinaly Papus Diabaté to New Hampshire to be artist/instructor in residence with Timbre Drums and to perform in New England and throughout the country. We hope you enjoy this CD! -Lindsey Schust *The "Kanouya Band" ensemble includes the following musicians from Bamako: Babani Tangara (djembe 1-9 & vocals 8) Assirré, (djembe 1-9) "BAD", (djembe 1-9) Cheickna Babani, (djembe 1-9) Boubacar Bob Traoré, (djembe 1-9 & vocals 6 + 7) Dianguire, (djembe 1-9) "Diabaté", (djembe + talking drum 1-9) "Lansine", (djembe 1-9) "Lamine", (djembe 1-9) Madou Drame, (talking drum 1-9) Modibo Kouyaté, (balafon) Madou Keïta, (vocals 2 + 5) Madou Sangaré, (vocals 2+ 3) & Douda Flany Sangaré (vocals 3 + 4)