Des Eaux; Prince Diabate, Steve McCormick & Greg Ellis & Heather Donavon

Des Eaux is a collaborative sink-in Sound Experience & venture between producer guitarist Steve McCormick (Studebaker, Love Me in the Dark), master Guinean Kora player Prince Diabate and renowned percussionist Greg Ellis. It is a cross-pollination of Africa and the blues, akin to Ry Cooder’s Talking Timbuktu project with Ali Farka Toure.

Heather Donovan will both open the performance with a crystal bowl sound healing and add her vocals to Des Eaux.

The music is hypnotic and healing and the entire experience will be transportive. Attendees will be encouraged to sit on the Many Moroccan rugs and Corazon’s pillows, close their eyes and let the music take them. Yoga mats would not be a bad idea.

$20 bucks or Companion Discount for 2 is $30

Special Corazon Membership price is $10 bucks (with current monthly active membership)

BYOB allowed. Free parking. Great food next door at Endless Color pizza.

• Steve McCormick – Guitars
• Prince Diabate – Kora and Kamalen Ngoni
• Greg Ellis – Hand Drums and Percussion

also:

• Heather Donavon – Crystal Bowls and Voice

ABOUT THE PERFORMERS:

Steve McCormick

Known for his songwriting and guitar playing, Steve McCormick is also quietly establishing a reputation for producing independent artists and helping to bring their music to fruition. With more than 30 albums under his belt, including Topanga faves like Tim O’Gara, Amilia K Spicer and Old Bull, seven full length albums of his own, and recent offerings by The Wholesome (July 2023)and Mark Joseph (Nov 2023), McCormick’s work is steadily and beautifully unfolding.

On his newest project, a collaboration born with percussionist Greg Ellis, McCormick is venturing into world music. Since bringing on the master Kora player Prince Diabaté, the music has taken on an authentic African sound, but with McCormick’s recording and production acumen, a truly extraordinary thing is happening.

For this “Des Eaux” event, Corazon Performing Arts will be treated to a rare presentation of this music. The three key members of the project will explore making this music live in front of your eyes and ears.

Ellis, Diabaté and McCormick will present several of the pieces from the upcoming album, as well as delving into some improvisations and sharing their unique talents in solo settings.

Prince Diabaté

Prince Diabaté hails from a prominent, Malinké family from Guinea, West Africa. He learned his art from his father, Djéli Sori Diabaté. Breaking with tradition, his father also taught Prince’s mother, Hadja Djéli Sira Cissoko, to play kora. The young boy became an exceptionally early starter by accompanying his parents to their concerts throughout West Africa. Despite his father’s disapproval, he decided to make music his life. When he was eight years old, former Guinean President, Sekou Touré, came to his home town, Kindia, for a celebration in Independence Square. Braving the outraged soldiers and his own fear, the young musician grasped his kora, threw himself at the President’s feet and played a special song for him. Greatly touched by his skill and audacity, Sekou Touré became his benefactor, enrolling him into the National Children’s Theatre in Conakry. At 16 years of age, in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, he stumbled upon a videocassette of Jimi Hendrix and, inspired by what he heard, entered an international kora competition. Taking first prize that day he became known as ‘Prince Diabaté, Prince of the Kora.’

In 1986 he met the singer, Amara Sanoh, and the two started to perform together.In 1990 he won the “Découvertes” Award, sponsored by Radio France Internationale. After 12 successful years on the international festival circuit, touring in Africa, Europe, Canada and the USA the duo disbanded and Prince Diabate settled in Los Angeles, USA. Prince Diabate has released four studio albums: Lamaranaa (Buda Musique/Allegro) in 1993, New Life (Sunrise Records/Orchard) in 2001, which features guest artists Michael Brook and Hassan Hakmoun; Djerelon (Kora Company Collection) was recorded in Guinea, Conakry in 2006 and is arranged and produced by Kante Manfila, longtime collaborator of Salif Keita.The album won the People’s Choice Awards (Vox Populi) in the Independent Music Awards for 2007: World Music (Traditional) category.

His latest album, My Music, was recorded in Guinea, Conakry in 2022 and features Guinean and French artists. It was mixed in France and mastered in the USA.

Considered to be one of the leading kora players of his generation, Prince Diabaté brings not only total mastery over his ancestral tradition, but a commitment to renew it through fresh ideas and exchanges with musicians from many cultures. His years in the USA produced collaborations with artists and groups as diverse as The New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, Adam del Monte (Flamenco), Grammy winner, Ozomatli (Hip-Hop/Latin rock)and Grammy nominee, Michael Brook. The musically adventurous griot has incorporated reggae, rap and blues into his work occasionally punctuated by the funky

use of the wah-wah pedal. Lately he has adapted the music of the Wassolou to his repertoire, which he plays, self-taught on the kamelen n’goni. The result is entirely his own creation: a fresh, powerful brand of twenty first century Manden music, which remains strongly rooted in traditional codes and references.

In 2002, he was a nominee for the LA Weekly Music Awards and the New Times Music Awards. He was also a finalist in the International Songwriting Contest for 2004 & 2005; and took first prize in the 2005 and 2006 Pacific Songwriting Competition. His work has attracted grants from Arts International; Alliance for California Traditional Arts; Los Angeles County Arts Commission, Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department and the Durfee Foundation. Prince Diabate also maintains an active schedule as a lecturer on aspects of Mandinka music. He is also sought after for film and television projects in Hollywood including previous work with Academy Award winner Hans Zimmer & Grammy Award winner Heitor Pereira.

These days Prince Diabaté divides his time between France, the USA and Guinea and is often on the move, performing with his group. At the end of 2013 the Prince Diabate Music Academy was officially launched in Guinea. This new academy, the first privately-funded establishment in Guinea, is the result of Prince Diabaté’s desire to create an international music school specializing in stringed instruments and traditional flute. Construction is still underway and thanks to the encouragement of government ministers in Guinea and the generosity of private donors an official opening is scheduled for 2023/2024.

GREG ELLIS : Recognized as one of the more innovative and versatile drummers in the world Greg Ellis has performed around the world and recorded with musical artists from over 30 countries including Mickey Hart, Zakir Hussain, KODO, Bickram Ghosh, Mahsa Vahdat, Tord Gustavsen, Yungchen Lhamo, Chiwoniso Mairaire, Sugizo, Juno Reactor, Billy Idol and many more.

Ellis has released many critically acclaimed albums with his groups Vas and Biomusique as well as his solo album Kala Rupa. His drumming can be heard on more than 150 film, television and video game scores, including 300, Argo, The Matrix Reloaded and Revolutions, Iron Man, Body of Lies, Transformers: Age of Extinction, Downsizing, Salem, Samurai Jack, Far Cry 4 and God of War: Ascension.

He has composed music for numerous international film and television projects including the award winning documentaries Chasing Niagara and The Road to Fallujah.

As a passionate advocate for the healing and therapeutic aspects of organic sound and rhythm, he has presented lectures on the topic at various conferences and institutions including The Woolf Institute in Cambridge, England and Rutgers University. Ellis is also working on a documentary exploring the lost languages of rhythm in modern society and the impact of digital culture on music.

HEATHER DONAVON: Heather Donavon is a unique crystal bowl practitioner who combines the “healing” aspects of crystal alchemy singing bowls with her singing skills to produce a calming and ethereal musical experience.

Widely known as a session singer and live performer (Melody Gardot, Keb’Mo’, Ben Harper), and one half of the musical group Love Me in the Dark, Donovan has an incomparable vocal gift. Her voice has been described as “dusky,”a mezzo-soprano, with an earthy soulful quality and wide range.

Over the past decade she has been exploring different forms of spirituality and mindfulness, a journey that has taken her from yoga, to meditation, found a home with crystal singing bowls, where she can combine her singular skills in her advocacy for mental wellness.