Sacred Sabar Drums from Senegal: Aba Diop & Yermande Family + Special Guest John Medeski
Schedule
Fri, 26 Sep, 2025 at 08:00 pm
UTC-04:00Location
16 John St , Saugerties, NY, United States, New York 12477 | Saugerties, NY
Advertisement
Yermande Family is a Senegalese supergroup formed by master sabar percussionist, composer, arranger and griot Aba Diop. The Yermande Family consists of tama player Samba Ndokh on the talking drum, “The Jimi Hendrix of kora” Noumoucounda Cissoko on kora, a 21-stringed African harp, and Jason Hosier on guitar. “Yermande” is a Wolof language word that means to have a good heart that wishes for all people to be treated like family.For this event they will be joined by John Medeski!
Plus live visuals by B.A. Miale
This groundbreaking group interweaves the ancient griot storytelling traditions with Sufi mysticism and other influences. The unique combination of West African and western instruments creates a conversation between tradition and modernity, east and west.
Master percussionist, composer, and arranger Aba Diop is a proud bearer of the griot lineage: the esteemed healers, historians, and poets of their culture for over a thousand years. Rooted in the sacred traditions of his father, who devoted his life to Ndups— healing ceremonies powered by rhythm and melody—Aba brings the restorative power of music to a global stage. His compositions even draw on the medicine songs of his grandmother, a singer and healer whose voice guided countless ceremonies. Aba bridges his Senegalese roots with universal traditions of healing through sound. His performances reflect music’s ability to inspire connection and renewal. Aba has collaborated with renowned artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, John Medeski, Yussef Dayes, and Youssou N’Dour.
“Musically and spiritually Aba Diop & the Yermande Family is as powerful and important as anything I have heard or been a part of. There is nothing like it. The freedom and spontaneity with which they approach recording is how I believe it should be and what I love. Always connected to the source of where music comes from and why we do it in the first place.” —John Medekski
Advertisement
Where is it happening?
16 John St , Saugerties, NY, United States, New York 12477Event Location & Nearby Stays:
