Korasons

Based in Lisbon with musical roots in Brazil, Guinea-Bissau and Denmark, Korasons proudly presents its new demo CD.With 31-year-old Ibrahima Galissa is its untiring lead on Kora, Korasons is an exciting multi-ethnic experience which nurtures what it's all about: Life and soul, preferably wearing a pair of dancing shoes. Korasons is the brainchild of 45-year-old Danish musician Madshoff, who for more than 10 years has been on safari in the West African Mandingo culture and has now settled in Lisbon to be close to some of the people who became acquainted with Mandingo culture at their mother's knee. And the music has been given an excellent reception. The number "Tempo" from the band's demo-CD has been power-played for several weeks by one of Portugal's major radio stations, RDP-Africa, which feeds the Continent with musical titbits from most of the world.Madshoff was trained as a guitarist at the Rhythmic Music Conservatory in Copenhagen and has played with numerous different bands in Denmark including Muzi DanZim Band and Okyerema Pra & Agoro Band. His interest in West African music was aroused during a visit to Guinea, where he met Fatyiah Kouyaté, who took Madshoff on as a student of the Mandingo guitar universe. Madshoff has never let this music go, and in Lisbon's West African music circles he has found the people who share his passion.One of these, as previously mentioned, is Ibrahima Galissa, who as a child heard his grandfather excel on what can be described as Africa's most advanced musical instrument and the most difficult to play, the kora. With its 21 strings and a calabash with a cow skin stretched across it as a sound board, it sounds like a three flamingo guitars - played by just one man. And Ibrahima also had the eyes and ears with which to learn, so keen, in fact that he has now given the instrument a further two strings. His energetic virtuosity has made him a hunted man among the bands that cultivate West African music.Korasons' Brazilian taint is represented by drummer Aluisio Neves, known in Portugal as the man behind the drum kit of the reggae band Kussondulola. Neves taking lessons with the famous Brazilian percussionist Robertinho Silva. He is accompanied in Korasons by the percussionist Gueladjo Sané, who for many years was permanent primary soloist on the Balé Nacional de Guiné-Bissau Company's many world tours. Sané is probably best known in Portugal as the drummer in Djamboonda. His fellow countryman Sanhá Tambá is Korasons' bassist, although he is a competent guitarist and singer. Tambá has frequently featured at concerts by, among others Mory Kante, as well as at performances and on recordings made in Portugal or Guinea-Bissau. Korasons' most sensible form of expression, if one disregards the intensity of the music, is undoubtedly the vocalist Bineta Sock, who manages to unite body and soul whenever she sings. Youssor N’dour can vouch for her performance on stage, with whom Bineta danced when she lived in Senegal. Prior to becoming a permanent component of Korasons, Bineta Sock sang and danced for the Angolan singer Bonga.