Descending from a long line of distinguished griots (specialist hereditary musicians) in the Mandé culture of southern Mali, these distinguished artists perform one of Africa’s most subtle and sublime music styles. Trio Da Kali brings a fresh creative twist to ancient sounds, combining voice, bass ngoni, and balafon. Their music revolves around the pure vibrato voice of Hawa Kasse Mady, with songs that range from lively pieces to encourage farmers in the field, to soulful melodies and works that evoke powerful historical narratives of pre-colonial times. Virtuoso Lassana Diabate plays the balafon, which dates back to the thirteenth century, while Mamadou Kouyate plays astonishingly creative bass lines on the four-string ngoni. Much of their repertoire has been forgotten or neglected, yet it represents a musical culture that has survived over many centuries. They have toured with and recorded an award-winning album with Kronos Quartet.