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iday, August 14, 1998 — North Shore News — 15

NORTH SHORE NEWS ENTERTAINMENT & STYLE GUIDE

ALPHA Yaya
Diallo's latest
recording The
Message is rich
with fluid, pre-
cise guitar work

and a broad
selection of

African music

styles.

By Michael Becker

AERE’S nothing complicated about Alpha Yaya
Diallo’s mission in this world. He would like to bring
joy into the lives of others through his music.

Diallo, 35, is originally from Guinea, West Africa. He comes from the north-
ern area of the country. He was born in the capital of Guinea, Conackry. His
family is trom Fouta Djallo province.

He now calls North Vancouver home.

In June he released his third recording, The Message. It’s casily his best vet.
The independent di ributed by Festival Distribution.

recording touches upon a number of West African music s
ing Afro-Cuban rhythms, Senegalese Mbalax and

Diallo sings his compositions in four languages: Fula, Malinke, §
French.

The new disc also features Senegalese kora player Boubacar Diabate.

As a young man Dyallo travelled a lot in Atrica, soaking up
would encounter along the way. “I used to go to Senegal (wher
family is from) every holiday and spend time. There was different music there,
many styles of music. Cape Verdian music is very big there too,” he said.

But his approach to ute guitar ‘s as much influenced by Western input
is shaped by his African roots.

He is self-taught and has been playing since age 11. Said Diallo, “I learned
that other guitarists in Guinea don't give. Anything | heard, I picked up, blues
and jazz too. | was very impressed with George Benson’s style of plaving. He

‘0 be my favorite guitar pl k Knoptler.”

Diallo studied plant genetics while at uni vin Guinea. “At the same time
[ was doing music. Where [learned guitar was a very musical part of Guinea.

“Thad a lot of epportunity to play because the government was sponsoring
music everywhere,” he said.

In 1989 he made plans to go to Europe after he completed his degree. “1
dreamed to be a profes ‘ .

The reasons prompting his
desire to explore a bit of the
make a living as a musician.

He moved to Amsterdam in 1990. Prior to leaving he was already highly
regarded in Guinea as a guitar with Doura Barry and the Love System,

tlo d guitar and provi king vocals, Once in Europe he joined up

h an African group called Fatala and toured extensively ther:

The group flew from England to Canada and played festivals in this country
and in the U.S. In 199] he made the di ato live in Vancouver.

¢ twotold: he had a

was a dif vin which to

See Diallo page 26

GOH BALLET:18 PERFECT PET:2G BOOKS:21 MOVIES:22 BADLANDS:27