Koras most innovative modern exponent bathes in communion with a re-imagined classical guitar, unveiling a new and previously unsuspected musical universe. In a meeting between instruments, not traditions, these maestros emerge from quite different and distant musical worlds. Ballak Sissokos kora tradition and lineage traverse the once powerful West African empire known as Kaabu. South African Derek Grippers roots are in European classical guitar but infused with a unique jeli music mastery that takes guitars modern history in a captivating new direction. But we are not hearing these traditions in dialogue: these masters meet on the sonic groundings of the kora, instrument of the griots, resonant vessel of the sacred and profane, sound carrier of history and wisdom. Through two decades of commitment and study, it is to this terrain that Gripper brings his guitar to meet its multi-stringed cousin. The two men do not share a spoken language, but if it is true that music speaks universally, then they were already involved in profound dialogue long before they met for the series of London concerts which yielded this recording session a session which matches deep communion with sparkling improvisation, which pushes a living tradition into brand new sonic spaces, and opens a live and direct channel of communication between kora and guitar. In the complex web of theme and variations spun by Sissokos twenty-two strings and Grippers six, a new African string theory is elaborated. Musically we tested each other, says Sissoko, explaining that the most magical aspect of their encounters are spontaneity. We have the mastery of our instruments, the technique and a good ear. Derek is very curious, thats very important. Hes just such a good listener, says Gripper about Sissoko. Its not what he plays, its how he plays it. Hes an amazing interpreter, the prime master of timbre.