18+, Positive I.D. Required

By sensitively and skillfully interweaving improvised trumpet and flamenco guitar with traditional mandinka kora and vocals from Senegal, FlamenKora creates timeless and enchanting multicultural music; a welcome balm in these troubled times. Volker Goetze’s evocative trumpet lines dance gracefully with the soulful vocals and kora of his newest duo partner, the esteemed master of traditional Mande music – Ali Boulo Santo Cissoko. Up-and-coming Rio de Janeiro and Madrid based flamenco guitar maestro Roberto Monteiro is the newest band member, adding authentic Spanish flair with driving rhythms and subtle, imaginative colors. As the group’s founder and producer, Goetze brings a special wisdom to FlamenKora, acquired not only through decades of devotion to West African Mande music, but also through a deep mastery of jazz composition and arrangement and a recent deep dive into the melodic and rhythmic traditions of flamenco. In 2025 FlamenKora spent June in residence at the Manship Artists Residency, developing new compositions and deepening the project’s fusion of flamenco, kora traditions, and jazz.

Ali Boulo Santo Cissoko kora, vocals A virtuoso kora player, singer and modern griot, Ali Boulo Santo Cissoko carries forward the legacy of grandfather, the legendary “King of the Kora,” Soundioulou Cissokho. Renowned for his inventive style, Cissoko seamlessly blends Mandingo traditions with Senegalese and Western influences, creating thrilling music that is both timeless and innovative. He has collaborated with global luminaries such as Youssou N’Dour, Angelique Kidjo, Omar Sosa, Tony Allen, and Piers Faccini, expanding the reach of the kora - enchanting sound. As a cultural ambassador, Cissoko’s music preserves the rich oral traditions of the Mandingo people while pushing the boundaries of contemporary world music. "Ali Boulo Santo's style of playing the kora is outstanding because of his perfect mastering of this ancient instrument as well as his willingness to innovate." – Frank Bessman, Musique Afrique

Volker Goetze trumpet & flugelhorn An award-winning trumpeter, composer, and filmmaker, Volker Goetze is celebrated for his ability to fuse jazz with global musical traditions, creating transcendent works that promote cultural connectivity. His collaborations with Senegalese kora master Ablaye Cissoko—including the acclaimed album Sira and the documentary Griot—have been hailed as masterclasses in cross-cultural dialogue. Their album Amanke Dionti was named “Best World Music Album of 2012” by NPR’s The World and has garnered over 35 million streams worldwide. Goetze’s latest project, Little Big Top (Motema, 2024), is a collaborative journey with legendary accordionist, Guy Klucevsek, through musical landscapes where echoes of the ballroom, barroom, bordello, circus, and concert hall intermingle with jazz and folk from around the world. His prior release FlamenKora (2023), bridges West African kora, Spanish flamenco, and American jazz, earning international acclaim and sold-out performances in Europe. A multimedia artist, Goetze’s film “The Griot” and innovative his innovative Sonic Gates project in Staten Island, New York —the city’s first Sound Sculpture Walk—are examples of his commitment to integrating music, art, and community. For more info, visit volkergoetze.com . Volker Goetze has been traveling the world in search of that ecumenical sound ideal that enables him to play on all fronts and in all tones… to go even further and find a form of expression rooted in the soil of a people to make the colors even more vivid and shimmering. – RFI (Radio France International)

ROBERTO MONTEIRO flamenco guitar This rising guitarist born in 1987 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, began his studies in classical guitar at the age of 16 at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, where he also studied flamenco guitar with Mara Lúcia Ribeiro (one of the first flamenco guitarists in Brazil, a disciple of Entri de Cañorroto). From then on, he dedicated himself entirely to flamenco accompanying famous dancers such as Carmen La Talegona, Domingo and Inmaculada Ortega soon settling in Madrid, formalizing his studies in flamenco guitar at the Arturo Soria Conservatory. He is currently working in tablaos in Madrid, being the artistic director of Sala Temple; he accompanies renowned singers of the Spanish pop scene such as Lola Indigo, María Pelae and Vicente Navarro and the dance company Matices. His participation in FlamenKora is a gift to all who have the chance to experience his moving and dedicated artistry. International Press Quotes: "This is beautiful, reflective, soulful music resulting from the confluence of their traditions… a delicate and exquisite work." –London Jazz News (UK) "Magique " –Jazz News. (FR) "Wonderously Playful" –NDR (DE) "An on-stage exchange imbued with grace and gentleness... The Senegalese singer's songs complete this journey to the furthest reaches of serenity." - Télérama (FR) “Flamenkora exudes a remarkable sense of cultural diversity... showcasing an uncanny ability to listen and respond to one another, resulting in an exquisite musical beauty.” –JAZZIZ (US)