Coup de Cœur

Hugh’s Room Live and Batuki Music Society present Coup de Cœur
Live in the Green Sanderson Hall at Hugh's Room, 296 Broadview Avenue
Presented with support from Ontario Creates
Saturday June 14
Show at 8pm, Doors at 7pm
$25+ in advance, $35+at the door

Coup de Coeur is a West African group based in Montreal, curated by Batuki Music Society, that features Senegalese musicians; Sadio Sissokho on kora, percussion and vocals, guitarist Assane Seck, singer Seydina Ndiaye, singer and guitarist ILAM, tama player Pape Ndiaye and bassist Carlo Birri. This star-studded collective unites the talents of these artists, each an expert in their individual style and together performing songs that define regional variations, styles and melodies of traditional and popular West African music forms.

This special concert presentation features an exceptional assemblage of vocalists and instrumentalist. Get ready for an unforgettable evening!

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Artist Bios:
Sadio Sissokho
Born in Senegal to a family of musicians, story tellers, historians, singers and dancers, collectively known as griots, passing on their art from father to son since the 14th century. Sadio’s roots are richly embedded in the Mandingue culture, Son of the famous Senegalese griot Banna Sissokho (kora, guitar, chant) and Goundo Kouyate (singer), Sadio learned to play music as he learned to walk and talk. Surrounded by musicians of all types, Sadio’s first academic formation was in percussions, from the National School of Music, Conservatory of Dakar. He later followed in his father’s footsteps, adopting the kora as his preferred method of expression. After his music brought him on extensive travels throughout the world, he settled in Canada and enjoys collaborative projects and fusing his traditional music with many different styles. Sadio is a member of Okavango African Orchestra, winners of the 2017 JUNO Award for World Music album of the year and 2025 Canadian Folk Music award for Global Roots album of the year.

Seydina Ndiaye
Seydina Ndiaye, a truly extraordinary Senegalese artist is making a name for himself on the world music stage. Living in Canada since 2014, his compositions, refined by talented guitarist Assane Seck, and with the ultimate goal of raising awareness, address themes such as peace, sharing, family and love. Born in Senegal to the nobel family Bouna Alboury Ndiaye, he attended Koranic school, where he first connected with song. Singer in Fallou Dieng’s Orchestra, he traveled throughout Senegal, participating in many important events, such as, the Saint Louis Jazz Festival. His collaborations include AfrotroniX (Oyo, Zaala), Emrical (Ifree ka) and he has been featured on several world stages including the Montreal International Jazz Festival, Habari Africa Festival and the International Nuits d'Afrique Festival. Seydina has shared the spotlight with several big names: Xalam 2, Cheikh Lô, Pape et Cheikh, Souleymane Faye, among others. He worked with internationally renowned singer Youssou Ndour's Jololi label and has also contributed to the albums of Adiouza, Aliou Cissé, Ben Janet and collaborated with a number of rappers.

Assane Seck
Native of Senegal, Assane Seck began playing guitar early on. Son of celebrated musician Zale Seck, Assane’s passion for the guitar made him a well sought after participant of many musical projects. What started in Senegal brought him to all corners of the world! In 2009 he settled in Canada to focus on developing his music career. Notable awards include Ilam: Revelation Radio-Canada (CBC) 2016, Karim Diouf: Gala Adisq 2015 Prix Felix Best World Music Album, Elage Diouf: Gala Socan 2011 Juno Award Best World Music Album, Lorraine Klaasen: Gala Socan 2013 Juno Award Best World Music Album. Assane is a member of the 2017 JUNO Award and 2025 Canadian Folk Music award winning pan-African collective, Okavango African Orchestra. Collaborating with more than 30 artists and almost as many albums on which his guitar can be heard, Assane Seck has become a well- loved artist at home and abroad.

ILAM
Montreal can count on beautiful voices from West Africa. Ilam’s voice is among those that generate the most impact with the Afropop-prone audience” (Pan M 360, 2021). This singer, whose exquisite voice reaches into the depth of the soul, was declared Révélation Radio-Canada for 2016-2017. Singing in French, English, Fulani and Wolof, he has collaborated with fellow Fulani musician Baaba Maal as well as Yann Perreau, performing melodies that are literally spellbinding. Born in Dakar, Senegal, ILAM draws from his Fula roots to propose a musical style inspired by Sahel blues and afropop, with accents of reggae, jazz and soul. On April 17, 2020, ILAM released an album on the GSI Musique label entitled NÉNÉ, which means "mother". His second album Néné was named Best Album of the Year in the World Music category at the ADISQ in 2020, and was awarded Best Album of the Year in the World Music category at the GAMIQ Gala the same year.

Pape Ndiaye
Pape Ndiaye is an exceptional tama (talking drum) player, one of the emblematic instruments of Senegalese traditional and modern music. He was a main percussionist for the Orchestre National de Senegal, one of the most prestigious traditional orchestras attached to the Ministry of Culture. He is a regular performer with Zale Seck, an emblematic figure of Senegalese music based in Montreal.

Carlo Birri
Carlo Birriis an accomplished bassist and well-experienced in a wide variety of music genres and traditions. Based in Montreal, he is a regular performer with many African music groups in the Montreal music scene.

Batuki Music Society gratefully acknowledges the support of the Government of Canada, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Creates and Hugh’s Room Live.

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Coup de Cœur, un nouveau groupe basé à Montréal et créé sous les auspices de la Batuki Music Society, rassemble les musiciens sénégalais Sadio Sissokho (kora, percussions et voix), Assane Seck (guitare) et Seydina Ndiaye (voix), ainsi que les musiciens maliens Diely Mori Tounkara (kora et voix) et Carlo Birri (guitare basse). 

Ce collectif rassemble certains des plus éminents artistes de la musique ouest-africaine - dont chacun est un expert dans son style particulier - pour interpréter des chansons qui incarnent les différents styles régionaux, avec leurs mélodies et et leurs variations spécifiques, que l’on retrouve dans la musique traditionnelle et populaire de cette région de l’Afrique.  

Nous tenons à souligner la contribution de la Batuki Music Society - une organisation communautaire incorporée et sans but lucratif qui est vouée à la promotion de la musique et des arts africains en présentant des performances dans des salles de spectacle tout au long de l’année.  Cette riche programmation se conclut par un festival qui est le clou de chaque saison culturelle. La Batuki Music Society est constamment à la recherche d’artistes locaux qu’elle aide à trouver des salles de spectacles, en plus de les conseiller en matière de développement professionnel, d’enregistrement, d’organisation de tournées et de représentation artistique. 

296 Broadview is not yet a fully wheelchair accessible venue, with stairs between all levels. Our goal is to fix that, and we need your support to do so - please consider making a donation towards our goals to make HRL the best listening room in Toronto!

La salle située au 296, avenue Broadview n’est pas encore complètement accessible aux personnes à mobilité réduite, puisque seuls des escaliers permettent de passer d’un niveau à un autre. Notre but est de remédier à cette situation, mais pour ce faire, nous avons besoin de votre soutien. Nous vous encourageons à faire un don pour nous permettre de faire de Hugh’s Room la meilleure salle de concert de Toronto!