Samba Keur Fouta blends mbalax (African-Western dance music) and Latin-style rhythms with traditional African instruments: djembe, sabar, tama (drums), and kora (harp). Samba Keur Fouta is a refreshing and energizing collaboration of eight dynamic musicians led by Samba Guisse, a master player of the tama (talking drum), on vocals and drums.

Growing up in Senegal, Guisse was drawn to the drum as a youth. Unlike some other musicians, he was not born into a griot family, and over the disapproval of his parents he studied with elders of the drums. He was a founding member of Kissima Diabate’s Groupe Kiss and has since performed with many acclaimed ensembles such as Gueye Gueye Rhythm and Etoiles Nguewel. Guisse moved to the U.S. in 2003 and has been featured in such local African bands as Djialy Kunda Kouyate and Sila’s Afrofunk Experience. After opening a concert by guitarist Baaba Maal, Guisse was invited to join Maal for the rest of his tour. Guisse also has a solo CD out, recorded during a 10-month trip back to Senegal.

Chico’s Soul Union plays a mix of African, Caribbean, and American music coupled with inspirational lyrics. The band was formed in 2007 by lead singer and lyricist John Dutro and composer/multi-instrumentalist Greg Fletcher. Poet Dutro has recorded and toured with bands such as Mystic Roots and Pyrex and has also put two solo albums. Fletcher, who plays African instruments such as ngoni, kalimba, and djembe in Soul Union, spent several years in the bush of Africa learning from many masters; his most recent project was playing with Congolese musician Borrina Mapaka. Backed by percussion, bass, and drums, they released a CD in 2011, “Natural Accord,” with all-original material such as “Reaching for a Better Life” and “Bossa Super Nova.”