T.O. Music Pix Newsletter #114

July 19-25: What a week! I have a few notes and news items to post, but the music this coming week (certainly for African music fans) is so remarkable and varied, that this newsletter will be just a listing of some of the week's highlights, along with a few links I hope might whet your appetite. Although this summer has already offered some terrific African music (Luminato's extraordinary programming, last weekend's Afrofest treats), this upcoming week deserves a special look... For more details on these and many more shows), see the Events page.	Katenen "Cheka" Dioubaté: CD Release, Jul. 24
Monday: Jimmy Cliff at Massey Hall His performance will already be done by the time this newsletter is posted, but the appearance of the great Jamaican singer can't go unremarked in this remarkable week. Most famous (and deservedly so) for his starring role in The Harder They Come (watch the trailer here), he recorded some classic songs, none more memorable than "Many Rivers To Cross", sung, in the video on the right by a relatively "recent" Cliff on the British TV show, Later! With Jools Holland	Jimmy Cliff "Many Rivers To Cross"
Tuesday: Jane Bunnett's African-Cuban Blues Summit at Hugh’s Room Cuban jazz, blues and Malagasy rhythms: a unique show for sure. Flautist/soprano sax player Bunnett is best known for her Cuban sounds, but here she teams up again with New Orleans blues harpist Jumpin' Johnny Sansone, along with multi-Juno winner, Madagascar Slim, who's been known to play a bit of blues himself. Larry Cramer and Bill King are also part of the band.	Madagascar Slim, taken at his 2009 CD Release
Wednesday: Fool's Gold at the El Mocambo Not the usual "African" act normally listed here, this is a band I'm looking forward to catching. The LA-based group's music, in the words of one critic, is a "joyous mix of Congolese guitar and Indy rock band sensibility". And not just Congolese sounds -- their music includes Ethiopian and North African music, and is often sung in Hebrew. Check out more of their sounds on their MySpace page, or better yet, live at the ElMo. Same night, Frazey Ford, (not to be confused with Crazy Ford, who's running for Mayor of Toronto), member of the Be Good Tanyas releases her first CD, Firecracker at Hugh's Room	Fool's Gold: "Surprise Hotel"
Thursday: take your choice... or you can probably catch all three! A number of promising shows, including: People Project putting on a free noon-2pm show at Nathan Phillips Square with a mix of funk hop, reggae, folk and Afro-Brazilian sounds "Dance Tunes Without Borders" at the Toronto Music Garden (7pm), featuring banjoist Jayme Stone (whose CD, Africa to Appalachia won a 2009 Juno. Calexico, an interesting alt-country band from Arizona at the Phoenix. (a music video sample here).
Friday: Alpha Yaya Diallo at Hugh's Room No, he doesn't need any introduction here. The three-time Juno winner (2 solo, one with the African Guitar Summit) has just released his sixth solo CD, Immé. While it features his always impeccable guitar work and moving vocals, this release offers a different and fuller sound than his past releases, largely through the violin and mandolin sounds of Jesse Zubot (formerly with Zubot and Dawson). If you know Alpha's music though, you'll likely be there, mandolin or no mandolin.	Alpha Yaya Diallo
Saturday: Good luck! A challenge for African music fans, indeed: Bana Y'Afrique - the annual free festival runs over two days, 1-10pm at Metro Square (King & John). A particularly good lineup this year, featuring, among others, four members of the African Guitar Summit (plus Alpha Yaya Diallo, who will be conducting a workshop): Donné Roberts, who has been performing "African Pow Wow" with Marc Nadjiwan and other First Nations musicians, has now swapped his famous dreadlocks for a Mohawk (photo, right). Whatever the look, his music will be the draw. Afrafranto, featuring AGS members Pa Joe, Theo Yaw Boyakye and Kofi Ackah, always put on some terrific Ghanaian Palm Wine & High Life Music. A top-notch band. Ethio Stars: This local collective is becoming a favourite of mine, performing some classic Ethiopian grooves, with vocalist Ermias Assebework, great sax playing from Girma Woldemichael, and bass from the ever-present Waleed Abdulhamid. Other performers include Ijovudu Dance Company, Umurisho (a drumming group from Burundi), and Tich Maredza Quartet from Zimbabwe. Note: I don't yet have times of each of the performances, but as of July 19, this is the day by day lineup: (Keep an eye on my Events page for updates) Sat July 24 Aya Dance Collective Kooshin Thierry Kijanya Workshop - Alpha Yaya Diallo Donne Roberts Afrafranto Sun July 25 Rhythme Umurisho Toronto Ethio Stars Amadou Kienou Tich Maredza Quartet Ijovudu Dance Company M'bilia Bel Bana is expected to close around 10pm, just when a couple of other shows will be kicking into high gear: The same night, features one of Africa's musical giants, Oliver Mtukudzi and the Black Spirits (with Tich Maredza Quartet opening). A Small World Music show at the Opera House. For me, his music, great as it his, is matched by the spirit he brings (and the energy of the legions of Zimbabwean fans that crowd all his shows). He last played here in November, when he shared the stage with his 21 year old son, Sam, who was tragically killed in a car accident last March. (photo) Doors open 8, music probably about 9. But... also on Saturday night, Katenen "Cheka" Dioubaté, the Toronto-based griot whose performances are always impressive launches her first CD, at the Steelworkers Hall, 25 Cecil St. (near College & Spadina). Mohammed Diaby and Manding Foli Kan Don open, and, as a real treat, the night also features one of Guinea's great singers, Sekouba Bambino Dioubaté, along with other performers. It promises to be a top-notch show in an intimate setting. It is a small hall, so consider getting advanced tickets. Details here. Cheka likely won't perform until after 10.	Donné's new look Oliver & Sam Mtukudzi, Phoenix, Nov. 2009
Sunday: A "Giant" Congolese double-bill Fans of Congolese music are already (virtually) lined up for these two performances at different locations: M'bilia Bel, singer extraordinaire of Congolese rumba, will close Bana Y'Afrique on Sunday night. This is a rare treat. On the right, a music video of her singing "Eswi Yo Wapi", a song that was played at Charlie Gillett's funeral service earlier this year. Bana is expected to wrap up around 10pm, after which the next show will start a couple of miles east of there: Diblo Dibala (aka "Machine Gun") ... perhaps the greatest Soukous guitarist around. I've heard the show should feature a full band -- and dancers -- so rest up ahead of time! It will be at the new Congolese nightclub, Centre Matonge, 224 Parliament at Shuter. $20. Doors 8, but the show likely won't start until after 10. Check a bit of his sound on this YouTube clip. (I noted one of the commenters posting, "Hands down and flat out, the most underappreciated guitarist in the world. Dibala is a King... You have NO idea how powerful this music can be 'til you've seen it live. "	M'bilia Bel
Enough music for now!
John Leeson www.to-music.ca