1. Plug from Music Africa
2. Radio Documentary: "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll"
3. Event notes
4. Carolina Chocolate Drops: review, photos, video

 

1. Thanks, Music Africa

First, a belated thanks to Music Africa, presenter of Afrofest, and promoter of African music and culture for over 20 years, for the nice blurb on their events page, calling this website "the most authoritative word on the African concert scene (also the world music scene) in the Toronto area.".

It's very much appreciated; that's one of the things I've tried to accomplish with the website and newsletter.

 

2. Radio Documentary: "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll"

A fine, 30 minute documentary that may be of interest to those who remember the 1964 Dylan song about the murder of a black Baltimore hotel barmaid by the 24 year-old white tobacco plantation owner, William Zantzinger. Dylan's song was not just about the killing, and its racist roots, but about the 6 month sentence Zantzinger received and which was handed down on the same day Martin Luther King made his "I Have A Dream" speech at the 1963 March on Washington. Dylan performed there, and read the account of the trial on his return to New York, where he wrote the song).

Howard Sounes, the creator of the show also wrote a Dylan biography, Down the Highway, and (very) briefly interviewed Zantzinger 10 years ago -- the tape is played on the show. Sounes posted a blog about the show

Note: the show will be available to listen to online until Monday, May 24.

 

2. Event notes

NOTE: The event listings have become so lengthy, I've started flagging recent additions or updates. Anything added or changed in the previous week (or so) is marked in red.

So much going on this month, but here are some notable shows I've pulled out of a long list of events. Of course, details, links for these and many other shows are posted at on the event page.

One cancellation to note: the June 28, Cesaria Evora / Lura concert has been cancelled as a resut of emergency heart surgery Cesaria underwent about a week and a half ago. I understand it was successful, and wish her quick recovery.

First, the Lula Lounge's always great LulaWorld festival continues till the 30th, Check www.lulalounge.ca for more info on these and other shows.

• May 20: Roberto Lopez Project: His Toronto debut. I heard him this afternoon on "Dos Mundos" (CIUT FM), and was really impressed with his funky Afro-Columbian, Afro-Cuban music. Only $10.
• May 22: A tribute to the Queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz
• May 23: Proyecto Altiplano with Freddy Torrealba bring Andean music to town
• May 26: Brazilian double-bill
• May 30: Lulaworld Music Family Picnic. An afternoon of live outdoor music in Little Norway Park. "Bring an instrument and be ready to dance"

A few other notable shows in the next few weeks:

• May 25: Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings at the Sound Academy. Soul plus.
• May 26: Rosie Flores: great country, rockabilly & blues singer and player at the Dominion on Queen
• May 28: premiere of the film El Payo ("The non-Gypsy"), a documentary about the father of flamenco guitar in Canada, the late David Phillips. Cast and crew will attend. View the trailer on www.gabanafilms.ca or YouTube
• May 28-30: The annual Carassauga Festival at the Hershey Centre, Mississauga. Music, foods, crafts from 60 countries!
• May 28-29: Toronto Tabla Ensemble, with Chhandam & Lavish Dance Companies at the Enwave Theatre
• May 30: Jason Wilson & Friends at Hugh's Room
• June 4: Ethio Stars band at the Gladstone. This is a collection of top local Ethiopian players, including saxophonist Girma Woldemichael. The band put on an excellent show at the April 23 Tilahun Gessesse tribute. (Some video here)
• June 5: Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loco at the Lula. Great Afro-Latin music, from a musician, born in Congo of Angolan ancestry, now living in Los Angeles who has adopted the soul of Cuban music. Canadian CD release for his 6th CD, Perspective.
• June 3-6: Muhtadi International Drum Festival. The 11th annual. Various events through the week, ending with 2 free days in Queen's Park.
• June 11: Quartier Latin Academia, plus Njacko Backo and Kalimba Kalimba. "Pre-Afrofest" event with one of the top rumba and soukous groups from the Democratic Republic of Congo

Finally, if you're considering some area trips in July, Staff Benda Bilili, the excellent Congolese group, whose debut CD, Tres Tres Fort won numerous "Best of Year" picks a couple of years will be playing the Montreal Jazz Festival July 5 (Club Soda); Quebec City July 8 & 9 (Festival D'Éte); and Ottawa's Cisco Blues Festival July 10. No word yet if any Toronto promoter will pick them up. (They only have about 10 days between European gigs).

A couple of videos of the group: "Polio" (self-explanatory) and "Je t'aime" from a TV appearance.

 

3. Luminato notes

I've mentioned some of the festival's events before, but it's certainly worth checking out the huge scope of the festival. In particular, it has a huge African presence: music, literature, discussion, film and an ambitious theatre production, The African Trilogy, three one-hour plays, inspired by Stephen Lewis's 2005 Massey Lectures and created by three playwrights and three directors from six countries. Presented most nights at the Fleck Theatre, Harbourfront. If interested, get tickets now.

Of course, for music, not much can touch the great Jun 12 & 19 free concerts. I now have the details posted of the closing day concert, June 20. (Details of all shows on my events page).

And I also recommend Throw Down Your Heart, the documentary film about Béla Fleck's trip to Africa. Both Fleck and the great ngnoi master, Bassekou Kouyate will attend and participate in a Q&A. June 12, 10:30am, prior to their live performance that evening.

• See Luminato's "Imagine Africa" flyer (PDF) here
• Here's a scheduling tool: My Luminato, also available as an iPhone app.

 

4. Carolina Chocolate Drops: May 4 Hugh's Room

Final note goes to this North Carolina-based trio, who put on a wonderful show this month at Hugh's Room, as noted in the last newsletter. A review and photos by Eric Thom are posted on the RootsCanada website; and a few more of my video clips are here.

Various videos from recent concerts are posted at www.youtube.to-music.ca