This June, New York-based trumpeter/producer Volker Goetze and Senegalese kora master/innovator Ali Boulo Santo Cissoko are set to release Sargal, a duo album with guest features by the world-renowned percussionist Mino Cinelu, famed for his work with Miles Davis and Weather Report. Recorded in Paris at the Goethe-Institut in 2021, Sargal documents the first explorations of a powerful new musical partnership.
As a producer and trumpeter, Volker Goetze first came to world music fame in 2008 when his recordings and performances with Ablaye Cissoko charmed critics and fans worldwide with their beguiling blend of muted jazz trumpet and traditional Mandinke music. Ablaye & Volker’s albums Sira and Amanke Dionte sparked significant touring and over thirty-five million streams. At the time, Goetze also produced and directed the award-winning documentary Griot, which featured Ablaye and focused on Mandinke spiritual traditions. Over time, Volker and Ablaye moved on to solo careers, but Volker found himself yearning for the Mandinke sounds that had deeply imprinted his musical soul. In 2021, a chance encounter led him to meet Ablaye’s brother, Ali Boulo Santo Cissoko, with whom he instantly developed a personal and musical rapport.
It has been said that Ali Boulo Santo was “born with a kora in his hands,” and he is surely one of his generation’s most refined experts in the traditional skills that run in the Cissoko family. However, he also relishes breaking out of the mold. He was the first to attach his kora (a traditional 21-string West African harp-lute)toawah-wah pedal, and his passion for musical innovation led to collaborations with disparate top artists including Trilok Gurtu, Manu Dibango, Angélique Kidjo, and Youssou N’Dour.
In his first rehearsals with Ali Boulo, Volker was delighted to find surprising and sophisticated musical avenues opening up. Ali Boulo explains, “Sargal created its own modern musical universe by departing from two distinct worlds: the timeless kora traditions of Africa and the boundless universe of jazz. It’s an open musical journey and an homage that dissolves boundaries and celebrates our shared human experience through sound. In its spiritual and therapeutic dimensions, this musictestifies to the profound way that art can unite diverse individuals and provide enjoyment for all. Volker’s unique voice on trumpet tells soulful narratives that both transport and inspire me.”
Volker reveals, “Ali is a rare musician; not only has he mastered the immense depth of his family’s complex traditions, but he’s also authentically absorbed many other West African and Western music styles, leading to a musical understanding that allows him to orchestrate and compose in seemingly limitless ways. He also has perfect pitch, and as his harmonic imagination far surpasses the traditional constraints of the kora's 21-string tonal framework, he constantly innovates by inventing unique kora tunings and styles.”
As a producer and trumpeter, Volker Goetze first came to world music fame in 2008 when his recordings and performances with Ablaye Cissoko charmed critics and fans worldwide with their beguiling blend of muted jazz trumpet and traditional Mandinke music. Ablaye & Volker’s albums Sira and Amanke Dionte sparked significant touring and over thirty-five million streams. At the time, Goetze also produced and directed the award-winning documentary Griot, which featured Ablaye and focused on Mandinke spiritual traditions. Over time, Volker and Ablaye moved on to solo careers, but Volker found himself yearning for the Mandinke sounds that had deeply imprinted his musical soul. In 2021, a chance encounter led him to meet Ablaye’s brother, Ali Boulo Santo Cissoko, with whom he instantly developed a personal and musical rapport.
It has been said that Ali Boulo Santo was “born with a kora in his hands,” and he is surely one of his generation’s most refined experts in the traditional skills that run in the Cissoko family. However, he also relishes breaking out of the mold. He was the first to attach his kora (a traditional 21-string West African harp-lute)toawah-wah pedal, and his passion for musical innovation led to collaborations with disparate top artists including Trilok Gurtu, Manu Dibango, Angélique Kidjo, and Youssou N’Dour.
In his first rehearsals with Ali Boulo, Volker was delighted to find surprising and sophisticated musical avenues opening up. Ali Boulo explains, “Sargal created its own modern musical universe by departing from two distinct worlds: the timeless kora traditions of Africa and the boundless universe of jazz. It’s an open musical journey and an homage that dissolves boundaries and celebrates our shared human experience through sound. In its spiritual and therapeutic dimensions, this musictestifies to the profound way that art can unite diverse individuals and provide enjoyment for all. Volker’s unique voice on trumpet tells soulful narratives that both transport and inspire me.”
Volker reveals, “Ali is a rare musician; not only has he mastered the immense depth of his family’s complex traditions, but he’s also authentically absorbed many other West African and Western music styles, leading to a musical understanding that allows him to orchestrate and compose in seemingly limitless ways. He also has perfect pitch, and as his harmonic imagination far surpasses the traditional constraints of the kora's 21-string tonal framework, he constantly innovates by inventing unique kora tunings and styles.”
Sargal—A Celebration of Gratitude and Connection
The word “sargal,” meaning ‘to thank’ in Wolof, serves as the thematic core of the album. With compositions that honor the past while forging new creative pathways, Sargal exemplifies the duo’s shared ethos. From the stirring rhythms of “Rokhaya," which features their esteemed guest percussionist, Mino Cinélu, to the flamenco-infused “Koratango," the album embodies the harmonious blending of tradition and innovation. Highlights include “Sadier," a contemplative piece emphasizing respect and tradition, and “N’Dimma," an evocative ode to honesty and sincerity. The album’s centerpiece, “Bétiyata," delves into the complex interplay of familial love and human vulnerability. Volker reflects, “With Sargal, we aim to honor the legacies of those who came before us while opening doors for future generations.”About Goetze and Cissoko’s Flamenkora trio
This album was recorded prior to Goetze and Cissoko’s album Flamenkora, atrio project that came out on Motéma in 2023 to much acclaim. The two albums share an interesting back story. During the pandemic, Goetze, who’s ever eager to expand his cross-cultural musical vocabulary, took an inspiring online course in flamenco with the Madrid flamenco master, Enrique Vargas. These studies, which Goetze now continues in person when he’s in Europe, shifted his musical mindset and inspired the beautiful composition “Koratango,” which closes the Sargal program. “Working with Ali renewed my long-held beliefs in the magic and healing powers of cross-cultural collaborations, and while rehearsing “Koratango," I had the idea to add a flamenco guitar to our duo. Soon thereafter we recorded the Flamenkora trio in Paris. As that group became our preferred touring unit, we decided to release Flamenkora first. The trio has now evolved to feature the Brazilian-born, Madrid-based flamenco master Roberto Monteiro. The joyful chemistry of the Flamenkora trio is infectious. To date, they’ve inspired standing ovations in Germany, Austria, Prague, Budapest, France, and Senegal, and having now secured a coveted 3-year O-1 performance visa for the USA for Ali, the group’s management is working to line up FlamenKora and Sargal duo dates for 2025 and beyond. Music from Sargal and FlamenKora will be showcased at a Paul Manship Artists Residency on June 13th, 2025.About Ali Boulo Santo Cissoko (kora, vocals)
A virtuoso kora player, vocalist, and modern griot, Ali Boulo Santo Cissoko carries forward the legacy of his uncle, the legendary “King of the Kora,” Soundioulou Cissokho. Renowned for his inventive style, Cissoko seamlessly blends Mandingo traditions with Senegalese and Western influences, creating thrilling music that is both timeless and innovative. He has collaborated with global luminaries such as Youssou N'Dour, Angelique Kidjo, Omar Sosa, Tony Allen, and Piers Faccini, expanding the reach of the kora’s enchanting sound. As a cultural ambassador, Cissoko’s music preserves the rich oral traditions of the Mandingo people while pushing the boundaries of contemporary world music.About Volker Goetze (trumpet/flugelhorn)
An award-winning trumpeter, composer, and filmmaker, Volker Goetze is celebrated for his ability to fuse jazz with global musical traditions, creating transcendent works that promote cultural connectivity. His collaborations with Senegalese kora master Ablaye Cissoko—including the acclaimed album Sira and the documentary Griot—have been hailed as masterclasses in cross-cultural dialogue. Their album Amanké Dionti was named “Best World Music Album of 2012” by NPR’s The World and has garnered over 35 million streams worldwide. Goetze’s latest project, Little Big Top (Motema, 2024), is a collaborative journey with legendary accordionist Guy Klucevsek through musical landscapes where echoes of the ballroom, barroom, bordello, circus, and concert hall intermingle with jazz and folk from around the world. His prior release, FlamenKora (2023), bridges West African kora, Spanish flamenco, and American jazz, earning international acclaim and sold-out performances in Europe. A multimedia artist, Goetze’s film, The Griot, and his innovative Sonic Gates project in Staten Island, New York—the city’s first Sound Sculpture Walk—are examples of his commitment to integrating music, art, and community. For more info, visit volkergoetze.com.For more information contact GoMedia PR.
