Mark Lotz & A Fula’s Call

A Fula’s Call • cross-over with West African Fula music with a global twist (2006-2016)

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Mark Lotz & A Fula’s Call

Omar Ka – Guitar, Vocals
Jeroen Van Vliet – Piano, Samples
Mark Alban Lotz – Flutes, Fx
Afra Mussawisade – Percussion
Bao Sissoko – Kora, Vocals

<a href="https://markalbanlotz.bandcamp.com/album/liingu">Liingu von Mark Lotz Meets Omar Ka, A Fula's Call</a>

A EurAfrican Sound: The Story of A Fula’s Call

A Fula’s Call was a creative fusion of cultures, blending Fula traditions with contemporary European influences to shape a unique ‘EurAfrican’ sound.

Flutist Mark Lotz collaborated with Senegalese singer Omar Ka, a member of the nomadic Fula people, whose lyrics vividly depicted the life and culture of the Fulani. Alongside Afra Mussawisade (percussion) from Tehran, they formed the pulsating heart of the ensemble.

In 2012, a CD was recorded in Dakar, featuring an array of outstanding artists. Though it was never officially released, the album captured the essence of this cross-cultural collaboration.

Performances

Emerging from the Music World: Series (2006), Mark Lotz & A Fula’s Call became the third edition of Lotz’s mWWm ensembles. The project gained momentum, embarking on tours across Eastern Europe and beyond. In 2008, they released Mark Lotz Meets Omar Ka – LIINGU, followed by performances in the Netherlands, Ukraine, Moldova, Russia, Bulgaria, Egypt, and China.

Though the ensemble is now part of history, its music and spirit continue to resonate.

Projects

Over the years, Mark Lotz & A Fula’s Call realized several special projects, inviting musicians from diverse backgrounds to collaborate in unique settings.

Notable Collaborations:

Euregio Wind, Brass, and Percussion Orchestra
Namgyal Lhamo (The Nightingale of Tibet, Indian Artist of the Year 2007)
Senegalese Water Activist Abu Thiam
Fula Guitarist Abu Dijgo
Cellist Ernst Reijseger

In 2016, we were deeply saddened by the sudden passing of master Fula guitarist Abu Dijgo. He played a key role in our two China tours (2015 & 2016). R.I.P. Grand Frère.

Guest Musicians

Many outstanding musicians performed with A Fula’s Call, both live and on recordings:

Raphael Vanoli (France/Germany) – guitars, effects
Sandip Bhattacharya (India) – tabla, pakhawaj, hand percussion
Abu Dijgo (Senegal) – guitar
Ernst Reijseger (Netherlands) – cello
Serigne Gueye (Senegal) – percussion
Moussé Pathé Mbaye (Senegal) – percussion
Namgyal Lhamo (Tibet) – vocals, lutes
Alexei Levin (Russia) – accordion, piano
Ulas Aksunger (Turkey) – percussion
Mark Tuinstra (Netherlands) – guitar
Reno Steba (Aruba) – electric bass
Niti Ranjan Biswas (Bangladesh) – tabla

Download EPK

Projects

Over the years, Mark Lotz & A Fula’s Call realized several special projects, inviting musicians from diverse backgrounds to collaborate in unique settings.

Notable Collaborations:

Euregio Wind, Brass, and Percussion Orchestra
Namgyal Lhamo (The Nightingale of Tibet, Indian Artist of the Year 2007)
Senegalese Water Activist Abu Thiam
Fula Guitarist Abu Dijgo
Cellist Ernst Reijseger

In 2016, we were deeply saddened by the sudden passing of master Fula guitarist Abu Dijgo. He played a key role in our two China tours (2015 & 2016). R.I.P. Grand Frère.

Guest Musicians

Many outstanding musicians performed with A Fula’s Call, both live and on recordings:

Raphael Vanoli (France/Germany) – guitars, effects
Sandip Bhattacharya (India) – tabla, pakhawaj, hand percussion
Abu Dijgo (Senegal) – guitar
Ernst Reijseger (Netherlands) – cello
Serigne Gueye (Senegal) – percussion
Moussé Pathé Mbaye (Senegal) – percussion
Namgyal Lhamo (Tibet) – vocals, lutes
Alexei Levin (Russia) – accordion, piano
Ulas Aksunger (Turkey) – percussion
Mark Tuinstra (Netherlands) – guitar
Reno Steba (Aruba) – electric bass
Niti Ranjan Biswas (Bangladesh) – tabla

Kiev Telegraaf (Ukraine)
“The favourite of the Odessa public.”

Financial Times (London, UK)
“Harmony that transcends boundaries. Some 21st-century convivencia was on display … . A Fula’s Calling’s signature was the visible care they all took of one another, as the vocals segued from Bhattarcharya to Ka and back again, and the delight they took in each other’s performances: a palpable expression of friendship that blurred no boundaries.”

Muzykalnaya Europa (Moskow, Russia)
“The discovery of the 5’th International Ethno-Jazz Festival of Chisnau.”

cultuurpodium.nl (The Netherlands)
“The uncontested highlight of the Music: World Series concerts thus far!”

Al Masry Al Youm (Cairo, Egypt)
“The band’s harmonious, soulful melodies captivate and their more upbeat tunes may get you shaking. What’s for sure is that their musical blend of jazz with African tunes are in perfect harmony — as the group itself seemed to be.”

HubHao (Dongguan, China)
“These three individual talents alone would be good on ears, whether as buskers or solo artists. Together the collective passed tunes worthy of an Oscar-winning soundtrack.”

: St. Petersburg (2006)

: South Festival (China)

: OCT Festival (Shenzen, China 2016)

: OCT Festival (Shenzen, China 2016)

: OCT Festival (Shenzen, China 2016)

: Music World Series 2006

: ESCT Haiko Festival (Hainan, China 2016)

: Opera House (Guanzhou, China 2016)

: Chongqing (China 2014)

: A Fula’s Call

: WMDC Rotterdam

: Summer Festival Odessa (2006)

: St.Petersburg (2006)

: World Festival Smolyan, Bulgaria (2009)

: Music: World Series (2006)

: JFC Moskow (2006)

: Jazz.com (USA)

: Jazz-n’-Tazz (Greece)

: Jazz n’ Tazz (Greece)

: Francophonie

: Francophonie

: Folker (2008)

: Fly Magazine (UK)

: Ukrainian Magazine (Ukraine)

: Ukrainian Magazine (Ukraine)

: Texel Courant

: Magnitogorsk (Russia)

: Leidsdagblad

: JazzPodium

: Financial Times (UK)

: Artbeat (Egypt)

: Amersfoortse Courant (2006)

: Al Mazry Al Youm- Egypt)

: A- Fula’s Call (Hainan, China)

Band Members

Omar Ka

guitar, vocals

Omar Ka (vocals/guitar) inherited the distinctive cultural practices and musical styles of the West-African Fulani’s. His sensitive vocals and intricate guitar melodies tell instantly of the nomadic Fulani roots. Based in the Netherlands since 1996, he performs regularly with the group Omar Ka & Fula Band, blending traditional and modern instruments in energized grooves with strong vocal hooks. Omar Ka likes the challenge of musical experiments. He cooperates constantly with a variety of European and African artists. His lyrics are poetic, social, and even political. “Immigrants can bring good things because they plant their own culture within another culture….So the world educates itself…”

Jeroen van Vliet

piano, keyboards

Jeroen Van Vliet is the fresh 2014 Boy Edgar prize winner and most sought after piano players in Holland. His tasteful playing is documented on a lot of Cd’s as sideman and leader. Jeroen performed with many musicians, both Dutch and foreign, like Eric van der Westen, Bob Malach, Han Bennink, Kenny Wheeler, Eric Vloeimans, Michael Moore, Willem van Manen, Theo Jörgensmann, John Zorn, Norma Winstone, Charly Mariano etc. Van Vliet also composed works for choreographer Hans Tuerlings (Raz), pieces for small ensembles and for short animated films. Toured through a variety of countries in Europe, Africa, USA and Asia.

Bao Sissoko

cora, vocals

Bao Sissoko (cora/vocals) plays the Cora: an African harp. Bao is one of the rising Cora stars in Dakar, Senegal right now. He was born in Senegal into a family of griots. Bao was raised in the pure Mandingue-tradition. His father Tamba Cissoko was cora master with an impressive international career. Mother Fatoumata Cissoko was respected singer. He performed and/or recorded with Baaba Maal, Ngaari Law, Sioen, Vaya Con Dios, Zap Mama, Trio Tamala, Sinae, violinist Wouter Vandenabeele and singer Malick Pathe Sow. With these groups and as a soloist he performed all over Europe and Africa.

Afra Mussawisade

percussion

Afra Mussawisade (percussion) was born in Teheran and there educated in Persian percussion. Afra incorporates different styles of percussion from all over the globe to a highly original and musical setup which makes him one of the most in demand percussion players on the European scene. He performed with artists including the likes of Zuco 103, WDR Big Band, Ernst Reisseger, Scapino Ballet, SFEQ, Oene van Geel, Gabriel Perez, Praful, Baraná, Lotz Of Music, Till Brönner, Mezzoforte and many more. Afra is the producer of ‘A Fula’s Call’s’ debut CD. Toured Europe, Asia, Canada and USA.

Mark Alban Lotz

concert-, alto-, bass- flutes, bansuri, fx

Soloist, composer, producer in jazz and contemporary music often crossing borders with other cultures. Collaborations spans an arc with film, theater, performance art, visual arts and dance. Worked with many unknown and many famous but equally gifted unique voices in music all around the globe. Subject of international publications, prize-winner, nominated for the Edison and Beyond Magazine prize. Professor for flute at the Utrecht and Rotterdam Conservatories.