Royal Artist Group - Will Calhoun Mali Project

Will Calhoun Mali Project

“Will Calhoun's Mali Project Triumphant”
- The New York Amsterdam News

Sounds

1

Mayo 4:22
Mayo
by Will Calhoun Mali Project
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0:00/4:22
2

Oumoja 7:47
Oumoja
by Will Calhoun Mali Project
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0:00/7:47

Sights

Will Calhoun is a Bronx Born, two-time Grammy winner from the iconic genre bending Rock band LIVING COLOUR; who has been inducted into National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C. Will graduated from the Berklee College of Music, where he received his bachelor's degree in Recording and Engineering; and was the recipient of the prestigious Buddy Rich Jazz Masters Award for outstanding performance by a drummer.

He’s produced / toured with Harry Belafonte, Pharoah Sanders, Wayne Shorter, McCoy Tyner, Ron Carter, Buster Williams, Public Enemy, Lauryn Hill, Yassin Bey (aka Mos Def) Herb Alpert, Mic Jagger, Oumou Sangare and many others.

Will has four Grammy nominated Jazz recordings:

“Will Calhoun Quintet - Live at the Blue Note”, featuring Bobby Watson. (Half Note Records)
“Native Lands”, featuring Pharaoh Sanders, Buster Williams, Wallace Roney, Stanley Jordan, and more. (Half Note records)
"Life in This World", featuring Ron Carter and Donald Harrison. (Motema Records)
“Celebrating Elvin Jones”, featuring Christian McBride, Keyon Harrold, Jan Hammer and more. (Motema Records)

Over the past fifteen years, Will has been traveling and living part-time in Mali. He recorded drums on Oumou Sangare’s SAYE recording and toured in her fantastic band. This opened the door to Will meeting, recording, and studying with many masterful musicians in Mali.

Will Calhoun was finally invited to meet and play with THE HUNTERS, a very special tribe in the north that doesn’t play or record with outside musicians. The recording, produced by Malian master musician Checik T’diane Seck, features special guests Oumou Sangare, Madou Diabate, Vieux Farka Touré, THE HUNTERS, members of Salif Kieta’s band, Tacamba singers from the North, the late great “MANGALA”, and more. The entire recording took place at MOFOU Studios, Salif Kieta’s studio complex.

His touring band will be directed by Cheick T’diane Seck and will feature a mix of masterful Malian and Senegalese musicians.

This project is suitable for an assortment of clubs and festivals, and will give audiences the opportunity to expand their musical palette. Will's musical background combined with the Malian musicians creates a unique, and totally grooving sonic experience.

Sounds

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