Malick Koly

Malick Koly is a Franco-Ivorian drummer and composer best known for his works alongside Wallace Roney's Quintet.
Biography.
Early life.
Koly grew up between three different continents, Africa, Europe And North America. He was born in Abidjan and is of Guinean and Malian decent. He began to study music at an early age through his mother the Malian vocalist and World Music Grammy award nominee Awa Sangho and his father Souleymane Koly the Franco-Guinean impresario and playwright. He was primarily exposed to jazz, contemporary musics and African musics. Particularly music by John Coltrane, Salif Keita , Oumou Sangare, Hank Jones, Miles Davis through his father, an avid jazz fan and aficionado. At age twelve, he moved to the US to pursue his high school studies in Saint Helena and simultaneously pursue his artistic endeavors in the capital of Jazz, New York City and later grew to permanently move in the metropolis in 2016. He then attended The new school for jazz and contemporary music for a brief semester, and then fully partook in his career.
Musical career.
Primarily self taught, he was encouraged by one of his mentors, saxophonist Antoine Roney to study under Michael Carvin which he did for a brief amount of time. Koly had gotten a lot of attention during his brief semester at the New School, while studying under the likes of Charles Tolliver and Reggie Workman which he would later not only encourage him to leave the institution but to also play and tour under their tutelage. From word to mouth through performing within the lineage of the jazz tradition, Koly was establishing himself as one of the young up and coming new drummers of the New York music scene and at which time met, heroes of his that he would integrate the bands of as an active member. Notably, Charnett Moffett, David Murray, Wallace Roney (whom he played most consistently with until his passing) . More so from a freelance angle, he also played as a sideman with Tarus mateen, Marc Cary, James hurt, Cheick Tidiane Seck, Awa Sangho (his mother), Florian Pellissier, Yoann Louslalot, Craig Harris, Darius Jones, Eddie Allen (jazz musician), Curtis Lundy, Brooklyn Raga Massive, Mwenso and the Shakes and Jana Herzen to name a few.
Towards the end of 2017 up to February 2019, Koly despite his young age gave a brief run at band leading whilst simultaneously freelancing. The project was named Kounadya and featured an array of young talents and some refined elders notably Brian Jackson. That he had previously worked along side Scott Tixier and Janna Herzen in the Charnett Moffett Band.
In 2019 Koly was invited to join Wallace Roney's as an active permanent member of his band, and he did so until his tragic passing due to Covid on march 31st. He toured the Us and the world circuit with whom seemed to be one of his artistic guiding lights relating back to the relationship he held with Wallace's brother Antoine.