Amadou Diagne & Group Yakar
Multi instrumentalist Amadou Diagne from Senegal, West Africa, with his UK based band Group Yakar have a style that is uniquely their own. Afrobeat to Blues, Jazz funk to Mbalax with a Rock sensibility and some of the best African percussion you will hear globally.
Live recording 'Don't be afraid'
Live Recording Hootanannys Brixton 2016
Amadou Diagne & Group Yakar have played for The Afrika Eye film festival in Bristol 2015, Tropical pressure 2014, Purbeck festival 2014, Shambala in 2015, Bath Fringe 2016, as well as venues up and down the country and as part of the National Rural touring scheme.
Amadou has played solo and duo shows at the Blackwell Festival 2016, Sidmouth Folk 2015, Cornwall Folk Festival, Shrewsbury Festival 2015 and 2016, Bath folk festival 2014, Exeter Respect Festival 2013, and venues such as Kings Place London for LIFEM Festival, The Jazz Cafe (support for Modeste Hughes) the Southbank Foyer in London and the experience Africa stage at Destinations Show London Olympia.
The members of the band Group Yakar
** Amadou Diagne ** Amadou is a musician who has the traditions of West Africa at his fingertips. A former member of l’Orchestre National du Senegal, Amadou regularly performed percussion for some of the top West African stars whilst also becoming a busy session musician on the vibrant Dakar music scene. Amadou Diagne is a multi instrumentalist, guitar, Djembe, Conga, Tama (talking drum) kit drums, Timbale, Kora ( west African harp) the list keeps growing! As a guitarist he has developed a unique and intricate style which draws heavily on his skills as a percussionist as well as the guitar traditions of West Africa particularly the Blues styles of Mali. Amadou has released three albums the latest "Ligeey" being with Long Tale recordings in 2015. Amadou has twice had tracks from his albums included in the Froots magazine top picks Download, and has had a track included in the Rough Guide to African Blues released by World Music Network who also released his debut album, introducing Amadou Diagne in 2012. As a percussionist he has had the chance to perform with West African musicians such as Carlou D ( Womad UK) Youssou Ndour ( Goree Festival Senegal) and Cesaria Evora ( Cape Verde festival).
** Dan Pert ** Dan’s youthful exuberance and versatile guitar skills bring a special edge to Group Yakar. He flows easily between many styles – rock, blues, funk, reggae and jazz. He has played venues and festivals around the UK, London and the South West. Dan’s special guitar style is influenced by his eclectic musical tastes, resulting in a rhythmically interesting and melodic style with big soundscapes and intricate lead lines straight from the heart.
** Paolo Adamo ** Paolo’s drumming brings energy and colour to Group Yakar. Paolo Adamo was born and brought up in Italy and showed his interest in the music and a particular passion for the drums as a very young child. Paolo’s father introduced him to jazz music and enrolled his young son at the “Thelonious Monk Music Academy” of Campobasso for musical training for 9 years. Paolo started playing professionally from the age of 14, performing in the local clubs around the country and Europe, attending for 6 consecutive years the JazzPuzzle in Belgium.
** Guillaume Ottaviani ** Guillaume is a French professional electric/double bass player living in Bristol. He studied Jazz and composition at the Paris College of Music and graduated in 2011. Having rapidly build up a reputation as a reliable player covering Jazz, Latin and African music, Guillaume has performed at events and festivals such as Leicester Square Theatre supporting Larry Carlton, Marlborough Jazz Festival, Shambala, Green Man, Colston Hall, Bristol International Blues & Jazz Festival and Bestival Festival.