FULA FLUTE ENSEMBLE
By: Astrid Sutcliff

(From Space Junkies.net, June 2004)

Astrid Sutcliff [Astrid]: Tell me a little about the band members, names, what instrument(s) they play, musical influences, where are you based out of, etc.?

Sylvain Leroux [Sylvain]: The band members are: Bailo Bah, Master tambin (Fula flute) player from Guinea; Abdoulaye Diabate, singer/griot* from Mali Yacouba Sissoko, kora (African harp-lute) player/griot* from Mali; Famoro Dioubate, balafon (African marimba) player/griot* from Guinea; Peter Fand, upright bass player from New Jersey; and myself, Sylvain Leroux, tambin & flute player from Canada. Influences are from the traditional and contemporary African music world, particularly Momo Wandel Soumah and Cheick Tidiane Seck. Some of us are from a very traditional background while others have studied Western classical and jazz music as well as music from other continents such as Brazilian and Indian music. We are based in New York City where we have met and live.
[* The griots are a caste in the West African society whose role it is to remember and perform songs, stories, dances, myths, legends, etc. They are in effect the living libraries of their culture. One has to be born griot and cannot become one by choice.]

Astrid: How long has the group been together?

Sylvain: The group in its actual configuration dates only from a little over a year but its genesis goes back to the mid-nineties when its concept was being developed.

Astrid: How would you describe the musical genre?

Sylvain: Traditional and modern West African/World music.

Astrid: How does the tambin differ from the usual marching band/orchestra flute that most people know of?

Sylvain: What they have in common is that they both are transverse (side blown) flute of similar length. However, the differences are more obviousÉ as soon as you look at them you can see that they are very different animals! One is technologically complex, made of precious metal with a complicated key system, while the other is made from a vegetable (vine), decorated in leather or colorful tape with cowrie shells and sporting only three finger holes. When you blow in them, you get a completely different feeling. We are all familiar with the metal flute, but when you hear the tambin, it evokes nature and a distant past in a very compelling way. The tambin is also played using vocal techniques that may remind some listeners of the sound of Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull) or jazzman Rahssan Roland Kirk.

Astrid: What is the significance of the groups' name?

Sylvain: The group took its name from our first CD (Fula Flute on Blue Monster Records, released June 2002) which was the first album ever produced that is completely dedicated to the tambin (Fula flute). The title "Fula Flute" was intended to help define this new sound for a Western audience. The "Fula" (or Fulanis, or Peuls) are the ethnic group in Guinea who developed this instrument. It occurred to us that the words "Fula" and "flute" were similar and thought that somewhere, deeply, there may be a connection. Anyway, we wanted to emphasize that relationship and also thought that it was kind of catchy.

Astrid: Are all of the songs based on traditional Fulani stories/folk tales?

Sylvain: Most of the repertoire on the CD is actually Mande (Mandingo), the culture of our griot friends. The Fulas and Mandes have been living side by side for many centuries. Mande music is based on traditional epic songs, so, yes, for the folk tale side of the question. Our repertoire also includes original compositions and we are integrating more Fula pieces as we go along.

Astrid: How do you go about your songwriting? Is this a collaborative effort? Are many of the pieces improvised?

Sylvain: A band member will suggest a piece and others will find parts on their instruments that complement it as well as propose arrangements. So it is a collaborative effort. All pieces include a fair amount of improvisation, from solos to variations in the accompaniments.

Astrid: Most musicians would only dream about playing Carnegie Hall and your act has already accomplished this. What was that experience like?

Sylvain: We were fortunate to perform three times at Zankel Hall, the new high-tech venue in the Carnegie Hall complex. The first time was the opening concert when we played for 15 minutes in a program that included some pretty famous artists such as Renee Fleming, John Adams, Emmanuel Ax and Kenny Barron; some very good company indeed! We were very well received and made many friends. It was a boost for our reputation. Our full concert there was booked some 15 months in advance so the build up was a bit nerve-racking. You have fantasies of the gates of Paradise opening! The event was sold-out and we were well received. After it's done, you go home just like any other day but you have something good to put in your resume.

Astrid: Do you have CD's available and if so, where can they be purchased?

Sylvain: Our CD "Fula Flute" is widely available in stores in the US, on the Internet through major outlets (Amazon, Tower, CD Now, and CD Baby) as well as on our own Website: www.fulaflute.net

Astrid: Upcoming gigs?

Sylvain: Right now we are concentrating on recording our follow-up CD which should come out next fall. There are discussions about future events but nothing concrete yet.