First, some random cute kitten photos.  I was at the Douta Seck Cultural Center and saw a group of four kitten siblings hanging out on a walkway, and when they saw me they ran and hid in this tiny little gap in the wall:

This one was a little braver, or a little slower:

Of course the REAL reason I was at the Douta Seck Cultural Center was not to take cutesy kitten photos, but to play with the National Orchestra.  So most of the rest of the photos that follow are from the concert.  But first I thought I'd show a few pictures of the Cultural Center's hip, eclectic tree-art:

Now, some photos from the concert:

The whole orchestra (Orchestre National du Sénégal)

Tidiane Diallo, director of the orchestra 

Thierno Sarr, my saxophone buddy (and hero - he's the one who took me to his repairman to get my horn fixed!)

The kick-ass horn section!  (Lamine Tall, trumpet; Melissa Reiser, soprano saxophone; Thierno Sarr, alto saxophone)

Thierno and I doing some impromptu dance moves.

Me soloing.

Alassane Cisse, bass (and orchestra leader)

Massambu Mbaye, sabar drum

Vieux Koïta, balafon (he's incredible - a real virtuoso!)

Vieux Koïta, djembe

William Badji, the orchestra's violinist, taking a turn on drums (normally another of Vieux Koïta's posts)

William Badji back on violin.  William's amazing!  The best violinist in Senegal, I have no doubt. William also plays in a salsa band with the orchestra's guitarist, Baaye Sy.  (This was the salsa group I was supposed to play with on the night of the wrecked saxophone - see last post).

Cheikh Cisse, guitar and vocals (his songs were the ones I described in the last post which I found so beautiful)

Cheikh Cisse, guitar and vocals (with William Badji on violin behind him)

 Baaye Sy, guitar

Arona Pouye, keyboard

Assane Nar Fall (left) and Arona Pouye (right), keyboards

Alassane Cisse, bass (left), Assane Nar Fall, keyboard (middle) and Arona Pouye, keyboard (right)

Yacine Mboup, vocals

Zal Top, drums (Zal isn't in the orchestra, but as a professional drummer without the financial means to own his own set of drums, he took the opportunity to practice a little before the concert.  Unfortunately Zal's problem is a common one for many musicians here.)  Zal also gets photo credit for all of the other concert photos.