Kora player and singer Tyler Richart and his band of American roots-based musicians tackle traditional music from West Africa: the music of the “Jeli”, or local songsters.  A lifetime pursuit of mastery in many styles of music eventually led Richart, through The Evergreen State College, to The Gambia, where he lived and studied with kora and percussion masters for a spell.  Richart sings the traditional songs in the native tongue, with a finely tuned voice, and is backed by Sean Divine (harmonica), Cort Armstrong (guitar) and Kia Armstrong (bass).  Each song takes the listener on a musical journey, where improvised melodies and rhythms constantly transform, building on what came before.