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In this issue:
1. Palm Wine concert rebroadcast Feb. 19
2. CBC Radio changes
3. Events: Johnny Clegg, and more
4. Other: Alglerian Rai, photos
1. PALM WINE REBROADCAST TONIGHT (Jan.
19)
Good news for fans of West African music,
especially Ghanaian Palm Wine music. CBC's "The World in Performance" will
be re-broadcasting the July 6 Harbourfront concert by Afrafranto, Friday
Jan. 19, 8-10 pm on Radio Two (94.1 Toronto, or
online). The group includes several African Guitar
Summit members (Pa Joe, Theo Yaw Boakye & Kofi Ackah), and first performed
last February in a wonderful, intimate show at the NOW Lounge (one of my
picks for live shows of 2006).
This July, they had a much larger venue,
and a much bigger crowd, as they were opening for Salif Keita. Simply
beautiful, warm music. The radio
how will also play the performance by superb kora player
Mamadou Diabate
from Afrofest 2006.
You can view my photos of the group from
Harbourfront and
the NOW Lounge. (The
NOW show is also available
online at Andy
Frank's podcasting site).
2. CBC RADIO
Among the upcoming changes on CBC radio
announced Wednesday (see
Star article), is the cancellation of Jowi Taylor's long-running show
"Global Village". (The show "Dispatches" will apparently be expanded to
include elements of topics covered on "Global Village").
A new show to begin March, broadcast 8-10pm
Monday to Friday will feature broadcasts of performances recorded live
across the country featuring a range of music, focusing largely on Canadian
performers, but including international artists as well. The format -- and
the host (Matt Galloway) -- make it appear that it will be a kind of broader
"The World in Performance".
3. EVENTS
See
http://www.to-music.ca/events.htm for details of the events below plus many
others.
Johnny Clegg - Feb. 20. The South African
star is
making a very rare appearance in town next month at the Danforth
Music Hall.
Below is a description I found on a music
list of a recent Clegg performance in London, U.K. And, here are a few
YouTube video clips from the same show:
http://youtube.com/results?search_query=johnny+clegg+shepherd+bush&search=Search
AND then Johnny Clegg - 2 hours on stage and rising and he still had
even more to give - high Zulu kicks, high energy bush dance -swirling round
the stage jazz style and use of at least 3 different guitars
notwithstanding! I had forgotten how good he is. How he leaves any questions
about what is world music at the gate - Mbqanga, Marabi, Rock - Chimurenga
beats on one song: a real plea and indictment about how things are in
Zimbabwe - good humoured anecdotes that go somewhere and give both political
and very personal insights into the man - whether you agree entirely with
him or not - more rock and more clear understanding of how music works. How
you can be born in England and grow up an African. Towering rhythm section -
fabulous use of those unique south african harmonies - driven by his long
time vocal colleague Mandisa Dlanga whose worked with him for 20
years (and is a producer in her own right) and musical arranger, of 15 years
standing, Andy Innes. And he featuredthe first French, Afrikans, Zulu
fusion!
The set was a superbly paced mix of (both brilliant and need time to
grow on you) tracks from Johnny Clegg's new album and full house sing along
favourites retaining their potency) which eventually he gave full vent to in
the last part of the gig and when finally the capacity crowd
really started dancing too - jumping and girating and not even
treading on toes despite the place being packed! In the two upper tiers it
was
standing ovation time which lasted a good four minutes before the
generous encore. And the thing I really took away from it was both Johnny
Clegg's sheer pleasure in still sharing his music after a lifetime on stage
and the value he gives his musicians - even giving them full biogs on his
website.
Here is a recent South African news story about
him:
http://www.chico.mweb.co.za/art/2006/2006dec/061215-zulu.html
A few other events of note:
This Saturday Feb. 20, in typical
eclectic Toronto fashion, choices include:
Memorial for Boubacar Diabate - Jan. 26. A very lengthy list of musicians will perform to honour
the Senegalese griot / kora player. Music starts at 8, doors open and films
of Boubacar at 7. See my event page or
http://musicafrica.org/bubacar26.htm
Vieux Farka Touré - Feb. 10: I have
previously mentioned
this show (Feb. 10, Harbourfront) which will mark the Canadian release of
his frist CD (self-titled). Don't leave this too late; it
may sell out. Here are a few links about him:
-
His website
- Background, media release, audio clips
and links to the two Toronto Star articles
here
-
A video of one
of the songs from the new album
- Afropop Worldwide
review
of the CD.
Oscar Goes to Africa - Feb. 25. A
benefit for the Stephen Lewis Foundation. Watch the Oscar broadcast in an
African setting at Manyata Courtyard in Hazelton Lanes. Great food donated
by several Toronto restaurants and chefs, live music, "Maasai Martinis" and
more.
Tamsir Seck - Feb. 3 at Earthsong
James McMurtry - Feb. 5 at the El
Mocambo. Texas singer-songwriter
Kevin Mahogany - Feb. 7-8 at the
Lula. One of the outstanding jazz voices
Soweto Gospel Choir - Feb. 27-28 at
the Hummingbird
Many more... visit
http://www.to-music.ca/events.htm
4. OTHER
ALGERIAN RAI
If you enjoy Algerian Rai music, and Rai star Khaled specifically, check
Afropop Worldwide's website for an extensive feature, "The
Story of Rai" which includes a three part interview with Khaled, plus
links to a radio show about him, a Sing Out! article on rai, music samples
and discography. NOTE: At the moment, the interview links all point to Part
3. You can start with
Part 1 here.
LAST WEEKEND'S PHOTOS
Photos from last weekend's Gladstone "First Anniversary" party with
Njacko Backo and Hilario Duran, plus Adam Solomon at the "African Images"
exhibit opening, and Donné Roberts at Earthsong are all posted
here.
John Leeson
www.to-music.ca
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