Reviews

I love the way Alpha yaya Diallo's music has enough punchy tempo to get a crowd out of their seats , but with peculiar beauty, sensitivity and optimism.

Sunfest's success is built on visits by musicians such as Diallo, who is back for the third time. He is a true Sunfest stylist playing a Canadian guitar in an African style over, under, with and against a mesmerizing pulse of beat and dance provided by his band. Diallo says he adjusts the reverb and other aspects of the guitar to fit his African melodies and sounds. The effect is stunning.

La musique de Alpha Yaya Diallo pulse essentiellement dans les traditions musicales de son pays. Il y a bien quelques touches de modernite, de jazz notamment, dans sa musique, mais elle demeure essentiellement le reflect de ses origines. Le fait d'habiter ici ne veut pas dire qu'on change de
racines, indique-t-il.

Rich lively, hypnotic electrified griot juju pop from Guinea by way of Vancouver, BC. Singer/axeman Alpha is a fluid guitarist and heavyweight on a variety of percussion (ddjembe) instruments, including the balafon. His CD, The Journey was one of the most requested by the in the Fest staff office this year. Highly recommended.

...whether in lead or ginger picking style, for his musical creativity as well as his expressive voice, Diallo ranks easily as among the most exciting and appealing African artists to ever hit the United States.

Thank you for being part of the West Coast Music Awards. I have heard nothing but rave reviews for your performance. Best.

The Journey, another textured recording performed with passion and great musicality. [...] The disc moves along at a dancebeat clip, yet with enough going on that you listen while your body moves.
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Alpha YaYa Diallo achieves with [The Journey] what most African musicians have failed to do: he has created a classy Afro-pop synthesis of the continent's musical forms with western technology that won't infuriate purists.
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A kind of magic occurs when African musicians get together.
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Deliciously Hypnotic, highly recommended.

Alpha Yaya Diallo rocks! Just one more confirmation that Diallo has matured into a powerful force in African pop. Diallo is an awesome guitarist. His talent is easily heard on every cut.

From the electrified griot songs of the Manding with all their sputtering rhytmic intricacies to the sunny lilt of Congolese soukous.

Alpha's playing is a remarkably fluid current of notes, framed within a timing at once precise and free.

Vancouverites are fortunate to have one of the very finest African bands on the continent living right here.

As compelling as Baaba Maal's early Dande Lenol works, a powerful mix of voice, guitars and percussion.

Futur provides all the evidence anyone could want of his talent and his versatility. It's a rich blend of the timeless and the contemporary to delight the ear, the heart, and especially the feet.

Diallo plays a mean guitar and shows a substantial gift for creating polished pop songs shot through with filigree, riffs and rhythms of his musically rich homeland.

Guinean native Alpha Yaya Diallo brings the magic of his homeland to many on this quilt of African styles (Futur). Yaya, your roots are showing.

Rich and lively music from the mutil-lingual and multi-talented Alpha Yaya Diallo, the pleasure is derived from Diallo's impassioned performance.

Alpha Yaya Diallo (Guinea) is an awesome guitarist and a major talent. The Message' puts him in the first division of West African music.

Alpha's music comes together with an irrepressible enthusiasm that makes you want to move in response, thanks to Diallo's multinational band and cross-cultural musical influences.

Alpha Yaya Diallo - is an artist of rare musical ability. This Juno award winner is a composer, band leader and guitarist extraordinaire

Diallo is an excellent guitarist and singer and a definite man to watch. If you have not heard his music, it will be a revelation. I can't wait for a new Diallo record to come from his base in Vancouver.

Diallo writes and plays intoxicating music steeped in the rhythms of his homeland.

I confess, I'm addicted to Alpha Yaya Diallo.

Every so often an album comes along that is both timeless and incredibly current. The Message is an album with contemporary sound, and yet it is steeped in centuries of African music.

Stylish and Danceable. Diallo should be a hit with fans of BABA MAAL and YOUSSOU N'DOUR.

This was the best show I've seen at the Sidetrack in ages. Probably in my top five Sidetrack shows. Alpha Yaya Diallo and his band of 4 percussionists and bass guitar played three very longs sets.