Griot Song

Hailstork’s jubilant and fascinating duo is inspired by the West African griot storytelling tradition. Hailstork writes, “The griots sang and told stories, so I imagined one playing the sax accompanied by marimba, an instrument developed in Africa.” The marimba drives a tricky set of almost-regular patterns providing a lively accompaniment for the saxophone which plays the lead part that is sometimes lyrical and sometimes ornate.

Hailstork’s jubilant and fascinating duo is inspired by the West African griot storytelling tradition. Hailstork writes, “The griots sang and told stories, so I imagined one playing the sax accompanied by marimba, an instrument developed in Africa.” The marimba drives a tricky set of almost-regular patterns providing a lively accompaniment for the saxophone which plays the lead part that is sometimes lyrical and sometimes ornate.

Hailstork’s jubilant and fascinating duo is inspired by the West African griot storytelling tradition. Hailstork writes, “The griots sang and told stories, so I imagined one playing the sax accompanied by marimba, an instrument developed in Africa.” The marimba drives a tricky set of almost-regular patterns providing a lively accompaniment for the saxophone which plays the lead part that is sometimes lyrical and sometimes ornate.