Do You Know A Place Called Flekkeroy ?

Description

The new album by Dawda Jobarteh "Do You Know a Place Called Flekkeroy?" is jazzy with plenty of room for improvisation. Dawda fills this space with the dreamy sounds of his kora, a 21-string harp. Accentuated by the trumpet playing of Gunnar Halle, the sound feels Nordic and Scandinavian and blends into a unique sound pattern. At a young age, Dawda left his home country, Gambia, and lost touch with his traditions. When he moved to Scandinavia in his early twenties, he explored the possibilities of the kora and found a way to pursue and develop the tradition he had left behind. Dawda's music is the expression of the oscillation between tradition and modernity, old and new, different cultures and genres. The title of the album refers to a small Norwegian island that Dawda associates with beauty and contemplation. The eight tracks are a mix of original compositions, rearranged West African traditional melodies, and covers of 'Togo' by Don Cherry and 'Jackie-ing' by Thelonious Monk. In addition to the trumpet playing of Gunnar Halle, Dawda is supported by Gambian percussionist Sal Dibba, Danish drummer Stefan Pasborg, and Malian bassist Elisée Sangare.