Fusing the traditional music of the Mandinka people with contemporary sounds
Fresh from a sold out show at Archspace, the Susso project moves to iconic East London cultural centre, Rich Mix
Led by producer/bassist Huw Bennet, Susso creates music inspired by, and directly sampling, the magnificent sounds of the Mandinka people, recorded during a trip to Gambia in 2013.
Initially traveling with the aim of gaining perspective as a musician and to discover a new world of music first hand, Huw found himself humbled by such a welcoming community of artists, mostly belonging to the celebrated Susso and Kouyate griot families.
The debut album entitled Keira (meaning peace) guides the listener through Huw’s journey up the River Gambia, being welcomed into remote dusty villages, where your people are the most important thing in life. The tracks are composed entirely from original source material, field recordings and Huw’s talents as a multi-instrumentalist; performing tuned percussion from the region including the Mandinka Balafon, Kutiringding drum, as well as drawing on his skill as a professional upright/ electric bassist.
The fresh take on traditional Gambian music is making some serious waves, catch him while you still can in an intimate venue.
“Highly recommended.” Gilles Peterson (BBC 6Music)
“Amazing, amazing album…” – Tom Ravenscroft (BBC 6Music)
