[2] After leaving the Manhattan School of Music, he was hired as a teacher in New York City.
[3] In 1998, Etkin took an African dance class in Boston that was taught by Joh Camara, a percussionist from Mali.
He joined his teacher's band, which included Camara's uncle, Balla Tounkara, a kora player.
[1] His debut album, Kelenia (Motema, 2009), combined jazz with the Malian music and was recorded with three musicians from Mali: Abdoulaye Diabaté, Makane Kouyate, and Balla Kouyate (on balafon) The album includes an African version of "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)".
[4] Other musicians on the album include Camara (on talking drum), violinist Sara Caswell, and guitarist Lionel Loueke.