Mike Block Submitted photo

Mike Block and Yacouba Sissoko plan to perform at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, at the Chocolate Church Arts Center Annex, 804 Washington St., Bath.

Block is a multi-style cello player, composer, singer and educator, with a passion for cross-cultural collaborations.

In addition to solo performances, Block touring bands include Biribá Union, Mike Block Trio, duo with Indian tabla player Sandeep Das, and a West-African fusion band with Balla Kouyaté. Since 2005, Block has been a member of the Silk Road Ensemble, founded by Yo-Yo Ma, with which he earned a 2017 Grammy Award.

As an innovator, Mike is among the first wave of cellists to adopt a strap to stand and move while performing using his own patented design, The Block Strap, and is the Musical Instrument Consultant for Forte3D, the world’s first 3D-Printed carbon fiber cello. In 2020, Mike founded Play For The Vote , which organizes musical performances at polling locations across the country on Election Days, with the goal of creating a more positive voting experience.

Yacouba Sissoko Submitted photo

Sissoko, is a Master kora player from the djely tradition. He has devoted his musical gift to expand the awareness of West African history and culture, spread the word of peace and empower his listeners to take charge and realize their imagined futures.

His performances have a magical effect on audiences as he skillfully transforms traditional songs and stories that he learned from his forefathers into modern day messages of peace, love and harmony. His flexible virtuosity, which enables him to move seamlessly from one musical genre to another, has attracted the attention an eclectic mix of musicians who have sought him out as a collaborator.

Tickets cost $25; chocolatechurcharts.org.

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