Biography:
Alhaji Bai Konte was one
of the original solo griot masters of the
kora who hailed from Brikama, Gambia. He helped to draw
greater awareness to the music of West Africa before his
death in 1986. In 1973 he became the first kora player to
tour the United States, exciting crowds at the Newport Jazz
Festival with his flamboyant instrumental technique.
His playing was based in the
Casamance kora style (also popular in Senegal), whose elements
include rousing improvisations packed with frenzied
strumming, polyrhythms and an intense, more percussive
technique
of playing than those popularised elsewhere. Konte's
powerful
vocals accompany the plucks of his lute, which can be
extremely fast or offer quiet accompaniment.
Two things besides Alhaji Konte's own playing that
contributed to his unique melodies are the inclusion in many of the
performances of a rhythmic tapping (konkon) on the back of
the
kora by a second person, and the assistance of Konte's
sons and apprentices in providing a chorus of voices either
singing with him or in response to his solo phrases.
Alhaji Konte used instruments tuned at 3 different pitch
levels (G, A, and B flat), all of which are on the high side
of what might be called a de facto "standing pitch area" for
the kora, which is somewhere between E flat and G. The
higher pitch gives a very brilliant sound to the instrument
and has become more common today.
His sons, who are also Jalis, Dembo Konte and
Sherrifo live in Brikama, Gambia. Two LP recordings have been released of
Alhaji Bai Konte with Dembo Konte and Malamini Jobarteh.
Jali Sherrifo Konteh has released two CDs, 'Mansalou' and 'Chesano',
and tours the UK most years. His son Dembo has become one of
Gambia's most popular griot kora players.
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Discography:
 • 1973 - Konte, Alhaji Bai: Kora Melodies from The Republic of the
Gambia, West Africa. Produced and recorded by Marc D. Pevar;
pictures and notes by Marc and Susan Pever. Rounder
Records 5001.
• c. 1978 - Gambia's Music / La musique de al Gambie / Gambias Musik. Ethnic Folkways Library.
Produced and recorded by Marc D. Pevar; introductory notes
by Susan Gunn Pevar. [New York City]: Folkways Records FE
4521.
• 1979 - Konte, Alhaji Bai, with
Dembo Konte and Ma Lamini Jobarteh. Gambian Griot Kora Duets.
Recorded 1977 in Dakar and Brikama, by Marc Pevar. New York City: Folkways. Re-released
on CD by Smithsonian Folkways Records in 1999.
• 1989 - Konte, Alhaji Bai. Kora
Melodies From the Republic of the Gambia, West Africa. Originally released in
1973, and works 1-10 were issued also in 1985 as analogue disc
(5001). Somerville, Massachusetts: Rounder Records.
• 2001 - Konteh, Sherrifo.
Mansalou. Compound Sounds CS01.
• 2005 - Konteh, Sherrifo.
Chesano. Compound Sounds CS02.
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