Alune Wade, Senegal/France

The Senegalese bass virtuoso, composer, and singer, Alune Wade, is celebrated in the global jazz and Afrobeat scene as a “super talent”. His versatile and deeply rooted approach to the bass establishes him as a crucial component in enhancing the vitality of the African jazz scene. Born in 1978 in Dakar, Senegal, Alun Wade was exposed to classical music through his father, who was a symphony orchestra conductor. At the age of 13, he began playing bass in local bands in Dakar. Three years later, he auditioned for the band of Ismaël Lô, one of the most respected musicians on the African continent, and stayed in it for eight years. Joe Zawinul discovered his talents and made him world famous by inviting Wade to become part of the legendary Zawinul Syndicate. Alune Wade has since partnered with other musical legends including luminaries like Joe Zawinul, Marcus Miller, Oumou Sangare, Bobby McFerrin, Youssou N’Dour, Cheick Tidiane Seck, Harold Lopez-Nussa, Gregory Porter, Blick Bassy, Fatoumata Diawara, and more. Alune Wade was personally selected by Marcus Miller in 2015 to contribute to Miller’s album “Afrodeezia” – a testament to his exceptional talent. At the Bansko Jazz Festival, Alune Wade and his band will take us on a musical journey with their fourth studio album Sultan. The broad spectrum ranges from Malian blues to soul and cinematic elements, music from Ethiopia, rap and jazz.