The first release on the new cumbancha label"s moderately priced "discovery" series, which provides a platform for under-exposed talents in international music. Kimi djabat‚ is a guitarist, percussionist and balaf¢n (african xylophone) player from guinea-bissau, a former portugese colony in west africa. Djabat‚"s sweet accessible sound is acoustic based and melodic, with a touch of afro-latin swing on several tracks, and the gentle sounds of the balaf¢n providing a foundation for most. Recognised early as a prodigy, djabat‚ began playing the balaf¢n at three years old. As a pre-teen he was sent to a neighbouring village to study the kora, which later provided a foundation for his accomplished guitar work. He has also since mastered a variety of traditional percussion instruments. Fans of habib koit‚, toumani diabat‚, cesaria evora and sara tavares will find much to love in kimi djabat‚"s music.