John Hughes

John Hughes is an internationally renowned composer, kora player, percussionist and vocalist whose style crosses myriad cultural boundaries and fuses disparate influences.  Playing ancient traditional instruments not often heard in the United States, many of which he builds himself, John takes his audience on an intimate musical tour of universal expressions of joy and hope that soothe and up-lift the spirit.  Whether playing elegant and stately pieces from the classical repertoire of the Jelis (Griots) of West Africa or original compositions, John Hughes' kora playing has an uncommon beauty that is, at once, exquisitely detailed and bold.  His signature pieces are rhythmically nuanced and laced with syncopations that cascade off the strings into whirlpools of mesmerizing sound.

Also a sculptor, dancer, educator and instrument builder, John holds a B.F.A. from the Tyler School of Art of Temple University and the West Surrey College of Art and Design in Farnham, England and an M.F.A. from the University of Wisconsin in Madison.  John has studied the music, song and dance of West Africa for over 36 years, training with numerous master drummers and dancers from Guinea and Mali, including Mamady Keita and Famoudou Konate.  As a Kora player, John is entirely self-taught and has, thus, developed a style all his own.  Having intently studied traditional kora music for 10 years before he even touched the instrument, however, his playing is deeply rooted in the ancient Mande tradition.

John has released 6 CDs of original music.   Please visit John’s website to learn more:  www.johnhughesarts.com

“...What is so impressive about Hughes’ work is the way he has absorbed so much of the stylistic language of Mande kora music, and yet freed himself to compose within the idiom… it is confident, original, and above all, highly musical.”

- Banning Eyre, Afropop Worldwide