World Music Institute to Present NYC Debut of WILL CALHOUN MALI PROJECT in Brooklyn
Cheick Tidiane Seck joins Living Colour drummer at The Sultan Room as part of WMI's Collaborations Series.
World Music Institute will present the NYC debut of the Will Calhoun Mali Project at The Sultan Room in Brooklyn, featuring Grammy-winning Living Colour drummer Will Calhoun alongside Malian keyboardist Cheick Tidiane Seck on Friday, May 15th, 2026 at The Sultan Room.
Will Calhoun dedicated years to traveling, researching, and immersing himself in West African music, combining the traditional rhythms he studied with jazz, rock, and hip-hop. The exploration resulted in collaborations with esteemed Malian artists, such as Yacouba Sissoko and Oumou Sangaré - including a memorable moment when he opened for the Malian superstar at her Apollo Theater debut in 2022, presented by WMI.
Malian keyboardist, singer, and composer Cheick Tidiane Seck will join the performance. Seck, one of the founding members of the legendary Super Rail Band de Bamako, has been a living link between jazz and West African musical traditions for over five decades, both as a solo artist and as a key collaborator and arranger for everyone from Salif Keita, Youssou N'Dour, and Fela Kuti to Hank Jones, Joe Zawinul, and Carlos Santana.
Performers include Will Calhoun on drums and electronic indigenous percussion; Cheick Tidiane Seck on keyboards and vocals; Adama Bilourou on djembe, percussion, and balafon; Diabate Kouyate on guitar; and Kabine Kouyate on lead vocals.
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