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Aly Keita is a world-renowned classical music artist who has made a name for himself as a master of the balafon, a West African xylophone. Born in 1969 in Côte d'Ivoire, Keita grew up in a family of musicians and began playing the balafon at a young age. He quickly showed a natural talent for the instrument and began performing professionally in his teens. Keita's early career was focused on traditional West African music, but he soon began to explore other genres and styles. He moved to Europe in the early 1990s and began collaborating with jazz musicians, including German saxophonist Wolfgang Puschnig and French pianist Laurent de Wilde. These collaborations helped to expand Keita's musical horizons and introduced him to new audiences. In 1999, Keita released his first solo album, "Akwaba Inisene," which showcased his virtuosic balafon playing and his ability to blend traditional West African music with jazz and other genres. The album was well-received by critics and helped to establish Keita as a rising star in the world music scene. Over the next decade, Keita continued to collaborate with a wide range of musicians and to push the boundaries of what was possible on the balafon. He released several more solo albums, including "Mandinka Dong" (2003) and "Kalo-Yele" (2008), which further cemented his reputation as a master of the instrument. In addition to his solo work, Keita has also been a sought-after collaborator and session musician. He has worked with artists such as Salif Keita, Joe Zawinul, and Omar Sosa, and has performed at major festivals and venues around the world. One of Keita's most notable collaborations was with German pianist and composer Jan Lundgren. The two musicians first met in 2009 and quickly discovered a shared love of improvisation and exploration. They began performing together regularly and released their first album, "Sira," in 2013. The album was a critical and commercial success, and the duo went on to release several more albums together. Keita's musical achievements have been recognized with numerous awards and honors. In 2001, he was awarded the RUTH World Music Award for Best Newcomer, and in 2009 he received the German Jazz Prize for Best World Music Act. He has also been nominated for several other awards, including the BBC Radio 3 World Music Award and the German Record Critics' Award. Despite his success, Keita remains humble and dedicated to his craft. He continues to explore new musical territories and to collaborate with a wide range of artists, always striving to push the boundaries of what is possible on the balafon. His music is a testament to the power of cross-cultural collaboration and the enduring beauty of traditional West African music.

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