Tony Romano
Guitar
Guitarist Tony Romano has been a prominent figure in the New York City music scene for over 20 years, known for his beautiful tone and remarkable technique.
He has performed and recorded with jazz, Latin, pop, and Broadway artists like Randy Brecker, Joe Locke, Michael Feinstein, Joe Bataan, Yomo Toro, and Debbie Gibson. Tony's guitar work appears in the BBC series 3rd & Bird, the Discovery Channel miniseries Going, Going, Gone!, and NPR broadcasts.
He is an adjunct professor at Five Towns College and has taught at Queens College and the National Guitar Workshop.
Irene Koloseus
Tap dancer, balafonist
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Irene Koloseus is a New York City–based dancer, choreographer, percussionist, and educator. She is the founder and artistic director of Féraba – African Rhythm Tap (est. 1996), an award-winning touring company exploring the deep connection between tap dance and West African musical traditions.
She is a recipient of the Sunshine Award and has performed at major venues and festivals including Lincoln Center Out of Doors and the Harlem Meer Festival. A teaching artist for over 25 years, she has worked with organizations such as Young Audiences New York, Lotus Music & Dance, and Arts Horizons, creating dynamic, culturally rooted programs for diverse communities.
Irene is also co-founder of the Balafon Quartet: Tradition Reimagined, an acoustic ensemble dedicated to preserving and reinterpreting traditional Mande music through layered balafon performance.
Andy Algire
Balafon, traditional West African Percussion, drum set
Andy Algire is the leader of Sound Bridges and a New York–based percussionist, balafonist, composer, and educator. A recipient of a New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship in Music Composition, his work is rooted in Mande musical traditions with jazz and groove influences.
He has performed and collaborated widely across the West African and jazz music scenes, including work with Famoro Dioubate and Michael Veal. Andy has taught African music and ensemble performance at Sarah Lawrence College since 2007, and his work centers on cross-cultural collaboration, composition, and improvisation.
Boubacar Diabate
Percussion
Aboubacar Diabate is a master drummer from Ivory Coast, currently based in New York. With over 25 years of experience, he has toured internationally, performing at venues like Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the United Nations.
A key performer with the Feraba-African Rhythm Tap Company, he also collaborates with local NYC groups and serves as a musician and educator at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Columbia University. Aboubacar has shared the stage with renowned musicians including Salif Keita, Oumou Sangaré, Toumani Diabaté. Known for blending traditional West African rhythms with modern influences, Aboubacar is dedicated to cultural preservation and remains a prominent figure in New York's music scene.
Niko Koloseus
drum set
Brooklyn-born Niko Diarra-Koloseus is a versatile musician, composer, sound engineer and educator with deep roots in West African traditions. A master of instruments like the balafon, djembe, and krin, Niko has performed with groups like DUEFUNK, Feraba-ART, and the Balafon Quartet, including a highlight at the 2024 International Festival in Harlem.
He teaches West African percussion through workshops in schools, libraries, and community centers, and has collaborated with artists across genres, including award-winning Afrobeat composerJames Numbere, K.I.N, and Ian Wex. Niko continues to bridge cultures and enrich NYC's music scene while preserving his heritage.
Rade Bema
Rade Bema Mgbass
bass player, singer, guitarist
David is originally from Madagascar. He has performed with many great artists including Azouhouni Adou, Olutosin Arib, and BeMaeva.