Professional Experience Lead Guitarist & Musical Director of world-renowned Saharan band, Mamar Kassey Since Mr. Toure formed the band in Niamey, Niger in 1995, the 8 members of Mamar Kassey have toured the world, crossing the continents of Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. They released 2 internationally acclaimed albums, Denke Denke (Daqui/Harmonium Mundi) and Alatoumi (World Village. Harmonium Mundi). Mr. Toure composed and arranged the music, trained and directed the band, and played lead guitar. Founder, Band Leader, Composer, Lead Guitarist and Vocalist of DEEP SAHARA, Mr. Toure’s U.S. based band. This outstanding ensemble has played at New York’s Vision Festival, Rhythm in the Kitchen Festival, Benefit for Kenyan Refugees, The Newburgh Jazz Festival, Kiahkeya Festival, The Stone, Shrine World Music, and many other noted venues. Mr. Toure has directed and performed in the weekly African Night Show at Saint Nick's Pub Jazz Club in Harlem since 2004. Professional Judge of African Musical Competitions National Competition of Modern Music in Niamey, Niger (1999) National Rap Contest in Dakar, Senegal (1999) National Amateur Music Competition in Niamey, Niger (1999) President of the National Association of Nigerien Modern Music Composers Developed and led Niger’s primary organization representing professional musicians to the Nigerien government and international arts organizations. Succeeded in raising awareness and appreciation of modern music as it has evolved in Niger. Represented Niger at international conferences on world music. (1995-1998) Professor of Music at the Centre des Formations et de la Promotion Musicale (CFPM) CFPM (The Center for Teaching and Promoting Music) is Niger’s only school devoted to the teaching, preservation and promotion of Niger music, both modern and traditional. Taught classes in Guitar and Harmonic Analysis. Area of expertise: the stringed instruments of the Niger River region of West Africa. (1989-1995) Member of Government Administrative Council, Bureau Nigerienne des Droits d’Auteur Participated in government-appointed committee devoted to copyrights, legal issues, and artistic property as related to the rich musical heritage of Niger. (1995) Musical Director and Guitarist Directed school band, TAKEDA, at CFPM (1989-1995) Founding Member Calabash and Guitarist of Band MAMAR Lead by Johni Ali Maiga (1982 - 19884 ). Founding Member Lead and Guitarist of Super Kassey Fused traditional and modern sounds and rhythms into band named Super Kassey, which became very popular through Niger for several years. (1985-1987). Musical Director and Guitarist Led group called International de la Capital withe three national big singers ( M. Poussy, Mao and Elh Taya ) three different languages, three different stile of music in Niamey, Niger (1985-1987). Fonder, Lead Guitarist & Musical Director of ORCHESTRE TAKEDA "CFPM" Music school Band ( 1992 - 1995 ). Lead Guitarist & Musical Director of world-reknowned Saharan band, Mamar Kassey ( 1995 - 2003 ). Languages On a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being fluent: French (5) English (4) Arabic (3) Sonrai (5) Bambara (3) Djerma (5) Hausa (5) Touring History with International de la capital, Orchestre Takeda, Mamar Kassey and Other Band for the following tour dates: 1987 National Cultural saison in oran, Alge AL 1995 MASA, Africans Art and perform market, Ivory Coast. 1997 October 27 to November 5: Festival des Nuits Atypiques de Koudougou (Burkina Faso) 1998 March 16-21: Ouagadougou Jazz Festival (Burkina Faso) May 16 – June 10: tour through West African capital cities: Abidjian, Cote d’Ivoire; Accra, Ghana; Lome, Togo; Cotonou, Benin; Niamey, Niger July 26 – August 5: Nuits Atypiques de Longon in Bordeaux, France 1999 May 23: Festival of Musion Music in Angouleme, France June 6: Rotterdam World Music Festival, Holland June 8: Live TV performance – TV Africa Live, Paris June 11: World Music Festival in Bielefeld, Germany June 12: Amsterdam Roots Festival, Holland June 18: Festival des Fantasies in Creteil, France June 20: Tilburg World Festival, Holland June 21: Feast of Music in Bourges, France June 24: New Morning in Paris, France July 1: Les Folies in Maubeuges, France July 3: Tanz and Folkfest in Rudolstadt, Germany July 27: Pirineos Sur in Huesca, Spain July 29: Nuits Atypiques in Langon, France August 1: Sfinks in Boechout, Belgium 2000 Cite de la Musique, Paris, France Jazz in Duketown, Holland Rasa Festival, Utrecht, Holland Zomer van Festival, Belgium Africa Festival, Switzerland Moers Jazz Festival, Germany Festival Rock de Blay-les-Mins, France Les Nuits Atypique de Langon, France Saint Michel l’Observatoire, France World Music Festival, Frankfurt, Germany World Music Festival in Buchum, Germany Invited to WDR-Weltmusik Festival in Colgne, Germany, after Youssou N’Dour in 1998, and Bab Maal in 1999. 2001 February: FESPACO. African Film Festival in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso October: Turkey November: Cote d’Ivoire Francophonie at ottawa hill Canada 2002 September 6: Charlotte, NC September 7: Greensboro, NClivepage.apple.com September 14: World Music Institute - New York, NY September 15: Harrisburg, PA September 20 – 21: Chicago World Music Festival September 27 – 28: Lotus Festival - Bloomington, IN October 5: Toronto, Canada October 13: San Luis Obispo, CA October 14: Kuumbwa Jazz Center - Santa Cruz, CA October 16: Ashkenaz - Berkeley, CA October 17 - 18: University of Santa Barbara, CA October 20: Temple Bar - Santa Monica, CA 2004 Harrisburg, PA Boston, MA Atlanta, GA 2005 Rubin Museum, NYC Sea River Festival, Connecticut World Music Institute, New York University, NYC 2006 Newburgh Jazz Festival, Newburgh, NY Rhythm in the Kitchen Festival, NYC Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors Festival, NYC Kiahkeya Festival, NYC 2007 African Film Festival, Lincoln Center, NYC TED Performance Joe’s Pub, NYC Puffin Cultural Center, Teaneck, NJ Wall 2 Wall Guitar Festival, Champaign, IL The Stone, NYC 2008 Vision Festival, NYC The Maritime Aquarium, Norwalk, CT
Professional Experience
 
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