EPK
Short Bio:
Djékady is a Mandinka phrase that means “coming together is good.” The result of the collaboration between Grammy-winning musicians Balla Kouyaté (balafon, vocals) and Mike Block (cello, vocals), this six-piece band puts Malian music into conversation with American folk music and contemporary styles. Featuring Mamoudou Konate (djembe), Idrissa Koné (talking drum, calabash, percussion, vocals), Luke Okerlund (guitar), and Mike Rivard (bass, sintir), the band’s energetic nature and deep appreciation for each other’s cultures create an unexpected and beautiful display of music without limitations.
Long Bi0:
Djékady offers a blend of West African and American music, drawing danceable rhythms and energetic textures between each instrument. Balla Kouyaté and Mike Block met through their work with the Silkroad Ensemble and quickly connected over their love for cross-cultural collaboration. Kouyaté has a deep appreciation for the legacy and culture of his traditional music, but wants to make music without limitations or boundaries. He found a simpatico relationship with Block. “Balla’s joy and unbridled enthusiasm is infectious,” Block says, smiling. “There is so much trust between us,” offers Kouyaté. “We treat each other like brothers.”
Every song is a trust fall, with each musician leaping higher and higher knowing their bandmates will catch them every time. “I’m learning to read the tea leaves of West African rhythms,” Block laughs, “but on stage, we stretch way beyond what happens in rehearsal. It’s always wild and revelatory.”
Djékady features three African and three American musicians. Mamoudou Konate (djembe) hails from Burkina Faso, a West African nation renowned for its vibrant drumming traditions and rich storytelling heritage. Idrissa Koné (talking drum, calabash, percussion, vocals) hails from the town of Mopti in Mali and is a member of the Bobo tribe. The Koné family’s role in their culture is to be like a friendly radio announcer — sharing news and announcements to everyone within walking distance. Luke Okerlund is guitarist and luthier from Worcester, MA with a longtime appreciation for West African music. Mike Rivard (bass, sintir) has spent time studying music in Morocco and brings the hypnotic quality of North African Gnawa music to the band. Dayana plans to release a new album in Fall 2025.
Press Quotes:
“a show that wove centuries of African, European and American musical traditions into a fiery new sound that had audience members on their feet.”
— THE VINEYARD GAZETTE
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Individual Bios:
Balla Kouyaté has been featured on over 45 albums, including Silkroad’s Sing Me Home, Yo-Yo Ma’s Songs of Joy and Peace, Angelique Kidjo’s Oyo, and Vusi Mahlasela’s Say Africa. His music has been recorded for the Library of Congress and heard in venues like Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Symphony Space, and The Kennedy Center as well as festivals throughout the US and Europe. As an educator, he has offered masterclasses in universities and schools across the country, including Harvard University, MIT, Berklee School of Music and CalArts. Kouyaté was chosen as a NEA National Heritage Fellow in 2019.
Mike Block is a Grammy Award-winning cellist, singer and composer with a passion for cross-cultural collaboration. Hailed as “one of the bravest, most intriguing musicians on the American fusion scene,” (Gramophone) he has been a member of the Silkroad Ensemble for nearly twenty years, and directs Silkroad’s Global Musician Workshop. Yo-Yo Ma calls Block “the ideal musician for the 21st century,” saying, “I’m always struck by his unique perspective on the world and his relaxed and confident approach; he takes on new music and new things fearlessly.”
Luke Okerlund is a guitarist and luthier from Worcester, MA. Early encounters with the instrument involved arming himself with a ping-pong paddle “guitar”, turning up The Who’s ‘Tommy’ and windmill strumming along with Pete Townshend. Through years of playing, he has built a fascination with music-making of all traditions and bringing his own style to the collaborations: a balance between precision and improvisational creativity that he lends to guitar design, music creation, and also pasta-making.
Bassist/composer Mike Rivard defies easy categorization and finds himself at home in a bewildering array of settings. He spent time in Morocco and brings the hypnotic quality of North African Gnawa music to the band. He puts his expertise of bass and sintir to good use in Club d’Elf, the jazz-world-dub-electronica collective he formed in 1998, producing eleven CDs for the band over the past eighteen years. The band has toured internationally and won numerous awards, and has featured many guests, including Medeski, Sandman, Hakmoun, Ryan Montbleau, Marc Ribot, DJ Logic, and Marco Benevento.
Idrissa Koné (talking drum, calabash, percussion, vocals) hails from the town of Mopti in Mali and is a member of the Bobo tribe. The Koné family’s role in their culture is to be like a friendly radio announcer — sharing news and announcements to everyone within walking distance.
Mamoudou Konate hails from Burkina Faso, a West African nation renowned for its vibrant drumming traditions and rich storytelling heritage. Since his arrival in New York City in 2009, Mamoudou has become a highly sought-after percussionist. He has had the privilege of performing with an array of West African bands, including the Mandigo Ambassadors, Natu Camara Winard Harper Band, among others. Possessing an innate talent, Mamoudou masterfully conveys the narratives and histories of both ancient and contemporary West Africa through the evocative rhythms of his drums and music.
