Guitar/singer/songwriter and Juno Award winner Alpha Yaya Diallo brings his mesmerizing musicianship to The Matchbox April 18.
Doors open at 7 p.m. with showtime at 7:30 p.m.
At the front ranks of African musicians and a true multi-cultural artist, he also performs in French, English and his native Guinean languages of Fulani, Malinke, and Sosoxi.
Diallo was discovered in the late 1980s by Peter Gabriel’s Real World Records when he was touring as the lead guitarist for the group Fatala. By melding traditional and contemporary styles he has made a place for himself alongside such African stand-outs including Salif Keita, Baaba Maal, Youssou N’Dour, and Ismael Lo.
Hailing originally from Guinea, West Africa, Diallo grew up in a number of regions. This exposed him to a range of cultures and rich musical traditions which is so clearly and vibrantly intrinsic to his music today.
He also spent time in Senegal where he picked up the popular and powerful mbalax rhythm there – as well as influences from Cape Verde and the Caribbean.
Over the years he has crafted six well-received CDs including Juno Award winners The Message and The Journey.
In 2007, Alpha was the only North American artist approached by the United Nations, to create a new work for a compilation CD that further raised awareness around the issues of HIV/AIDS, hunger and debt relief in Africa.
For tickets, call 403-341-6500 or visit www.thematchbox.ca.
-Weber
