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In this issue:
1. Event highlights
2. Hiphop #1: K'Naan
3. Hiphop #2: "Democracy in Dakar"
4. Music in Libya
5. Video updates
After a few weeks out of the country,
I've begun to catch up on news & events. In particular, I've updated
the events listings, with numerous musical happenings from now
through June. Lots to look forward to.
1. EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
See www.to-music.ca/events.htm
for details on these and many other shows.
Adam Solomon & Tikisa CD Release at
the Lula Lounge - Thu. Mar. 29
Last year, Adam released a new Tikisa CD (Tree
of Life). This week, it's an "Adam Solomon" release entitled Roots
Rhythms. The recording, which also features Muhtadi Thomas, is a homage
to the roots and rhythms of the Kenyan Mombasa Coast, which itself reflects
numerous regional rhythms and roots.
The show will also feature fellow African
Guitar Summit members Pa Joe and Theo Yaw Boyakye playing Ghanaian Palm Wine
music, backed by Tikisa, as well as Donné Roberts and Muhtadi Thomas who will
both join Adam and Tikisa on stage.
A few other events of note:
Mar. 30: Reza Derakshani at the Lula
Lounge. Persian fusion, presented by Small World Music
Mar. 31-Apr. 1: Jesse Winchester at Hugh's
Room
Apr. 11: CD Release for Autorickshaw at the
Lula
Apr. 13-14: CD Release for Harry Manx/Kevin
Breit
Apr. 14: Blind Boys of Alabama and Bettye
LaVette at Massey Hall; Sultans of Swing at the Trane
Apr. 17: Lucinda Williams at Massey Hall
(she has a new CD, West, out)
Festivals: Plenty of those, leading up to
summer festival time, including:
--
Small World Music's ongoing
Small World Jazz Series (at the Trane Studio)
-- also Small World's annual South
Asian Music Festival featuring Shivkumar Sharma/Zakir Hussain, Kiran
Ahluwalia, Karsh Kale and many others.
-- Lulaworld: The Lula Lounge marks its 5th
anniversary with its annual Lulaworld festival, May 3-20. Details TBA; a few
shows are posted now. (see
-- In June: Muhtadi's annual International
Drumming Festival, and "Masters of World Music" at Harbourfront (details TBA).
And some hot shows in May and June to look
for: Konono #1 (May 1), Ba
Cissoko (May 11), Manu Chao (Jun. 21.... his Vancouver show is already sold
out!). May also brings to town Percy Sledge, K'Naan and Mendelson
Joe!
LULA NOTE: Dundas St. is being
rebuilt from now through November, which affects TTC access and parking. See
their
note here for info.
2. HIPHOP #1: K'NAAN
There seems to be continuing fallout from
his recent video, "KickED PushED", and some of its violent lyrics, at odds
with most of his previous messages. I commented on this
last December, and
subscriber John Goddard took up the case in an article in the
Toronto
Star shortly after.
The current issue of Songlines magazine (U.K)
also comments on this, and quotes both the Star article, as well as a defence of the song that was written on a British music forum in response to
my posting there about the issue.
The Songlines article finishes by noting
that "the controversy seems certain to cloud the
Awards for World Music winners' concert in London in May." [Award
winners will be announced on March 31]. Of note also: the next issue of
Songlines will carry a major article on K'Naan.
3. HIP HOP #2: "Democracy in Dakar"
Calabash Music is carrying ongoing news
about a documentary currently being made in Senegal entitled
African Underground: Democracy in Dakar,
showing how local hip-hop is helping to shape the current Presidential
election there. The filmmakers (from Nomadic Wax) are sending 5-10 minute
segments each week, eventually to be made into a full-length documentary.
Click
here for the journal and video clips so far:
Part 1,
2 and
3
4. MUSIC IN LIBYA
I spent two weeks this month
in Libya, as I did last year. One of the striking -- and sad to me --
aspects of life there is the lack of music. especially live music. In fact,
there seems to be few opportunities for arts and creativity in daily life.
Much of the live music that is available is from a limited variety of
folkloric groups, who perform at festivals and official occasions. (Last
year, when I was at a concert in the Sahara, one young Libyan rolled his
eyes at the performances and said dismissively, "I've heard that a thousand
times"). Even the musicians who do record seem to receive little
compensation. Every CD I found in the music shops I visited were just copies
or MP3 burns, on sale for a little over $1 Cdn.
No club or concert going
there; my "Libyan events page" would be pretty short! A fascinating place; I
had a wonderful time, especially visiting with friends I met last year, but
I can't help but think that something has been taken away -- both for those
who would enjoy attending arts events, and those who have the talent and the
need to create.
5. VIDEO UPDATES
I've added a few video links
to the music library page, including several clips of Vieux Farka Touré's
solo guitar work, filmed in Bamako, Mali; the great Professor Longhair
playing "Tipitina"; Randy Newman, with "A Few Words in Defense of our
Country"; and Lucille Ball with the Dave Clark Five, and featuring the music
and singing of Phil Spector!
http://to-music.ca/music_lib.htm
John Leeson
www.to-music.ca
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