Sayon Souare – Jarra Jussu

Sayon’s third album of songs for life is “Jarra Jussu”. Recorded at Bald Hill Studio, Carisbrook by Mark Woods. Produced by Kouranko
released 31 August 2011 – Written and composed by Sayon Souare

Sayon Souare – Voices, Bolon, Gongoma, Krin, Toumba, Castanets, Djembe, Kenkenni, Sangban, Doundoun and Closhe.

Biography:

Sayon Souare is a Master Drummer, Master dancer, multi‐instrumentalist, singer‐songwriter and choreographer. Along with his passion and natural talent his skills have culminated in a music that is soulful and dynamic, transcending language barriers and touching all people. Sayon creates funky, rhythmic, sonorous music with flavours of West Africa and a contemporary and unique character. Accompanied by Molly Souare, Sayon displays his virtuosic skills on bolon, gongoma, djembe, krin and dunduns, playing hypnotic rhythms to get your spirit soaring and your feet dancing.

Born and raised in and around Conakry, the capital of Guinea, both his parents were exemplary professional performers (drum and dance) and from a young age he received traditional instruction in the arts of drumming and dancing from masters all over West Africa. At less than 30 years of age Sayon is a master dun player and djembefola (he who makes the djembe speak) and a powerhouse of traditional and original compositions and songs. His performance career has crossed multiple borders in West Africa and covers a wide range of traditional African instruments. His first foray into his parents footsteps began with extended tuition and experience playing dun dun, sangban and kenkenni, the bass section of an African drum ensemble. He has since mastered duns, djembe, krin and gongoma, a large thumb piano, and is a self taught and brilliant player of the bolon, a traditional hunter’s harp, that has a spiritual bond with it’s player.

Sayon Souare has an exceptional dancing style that has also broadened into acrobatics and other circus skills. Sayon’s dance experience hails from traditional street dances in Guinea, Gambia and Senegal and his professional work training and performing in the ballets. He has worked as a teacher and choreographer for adults and children, played drums and danced in multiple African Ballet’s, where similar to Australian performance institutions such as NIDA and VCA, tuition is intense, of a dazzlingly high standard and participants are all strongly passionate and dedicated.

Sayon moved to Australia in 2008 and immediately began exploring the African drum and dance scene in and around Melbourne and rural Victoria and taking on students. Performing at private functions, schools, festivals, street parties and clubs his explosive style and writing genius has mesmerized and intrigued audiences. Sayon is a prolific song writer and has just released his third solo album, “Jarra Jussu”, on which he plays all the instruments and sings. He has finished recording a fourth album of Guinean drumming and is writing and choreographing an African Ballet to be performed in Australia.

CD review by John Williams

You have to love our multicultural society, especially when it comes to music.

Some CDs available for review take you right out of your comfort zone and that can only be a good thing.

This CD by Sayon Souare is one such offering. Prior to listening to the CD I had never heard songs from Guinea with their interesting percussion work (apart, maybe, from some background music in old jungle films).

Sayon Souare sings in his native language but the accompanying notes translate his words in to English. This provides the listener with the ability to follow Sayon as he sings and plays his percussion instruments. He has written all the songs himself.

When translated the lyrics discuss life, love, the World and the place of Allah (God) in his beliefs.

This CD would be a must have for those who indulge in drumming workshops at festivals around Australia.

Sayon plays a variety of drums and the percussion is varied and interesting to say the least.

It is not a CD for everyone but I am sure it will have its adherents who would love to have this CD in their collection.