JMO | Jan Galega Brönnimann – Moussa Cissokho – Omri Hason (CH/SN/IL)

To mark the 10th anniversary of their trio, Jan Galega Brönnimann, Moussa Cissokho and Omri Hason have released a new album entitled *I Nia Yelle*, which means ‘open your eyes’ in the Mandinka language. The trio’s music, which breathes new life into the ancient traditions of storytelling, is most strongly influenced by jazz, Mandinka and Middle Eastern music. Moussa Cissokho, who hails from a West African lineage of storytellers dating back over a thousand years, draws on his own cultural heritage to sing about modern life, whilst the kora – a traditional African stringed instrument – with its bright, sparkling sound of the kora meets the rich, resonant, smoky tones of the bass clarinet and a whole arsenal of percussion instruments. The three musicians’ repertoire, which blends European, African and Eastern sounds and alternates between contemplative and explosive moments, captivates the listener with its beautiful melodies and rhythmic elegance.