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The weather forecast apparently calls for cooler weather this weekend, but not on stage. Things really start to heat up musically

In this issue:
1. Hot weekend: Kuti's, Eritrean krar, Mavis Staples, and a terrific double bill
2. Upcoming: Brazillian samba/harmonica, Toumani Diabate, Afrofest, Billy Joe Shaver
3. Other: free Zimbabwean downloads, Delbert McCllinton, Kenyan trip
 

1. HOT CANADA DAY WEEKEND -- Couldn't ask for more!

a) Friday night -

Harbourfront is the place to be (at least to start your night). Njacko Backo & Kalimba Kalimba kick off with a free concert at 7, at the Toronto Star stage (the grassy area north of the main Concert Stage).

Then comes the big Pier Party ticketed event starring Seun Kuti. This is a highly anticipated concert, the first North American tour by Fela's younger musical son. (Older brother Fela will be at The Docks, July 1). He'll be backed by Egypt 80 -- Fela's old band.

But although Mr. Kuti is the big name, I highly recommend the opening act -- Daniel Nebiat, the Toronto-based Eritrean krar player who has recently been getting a lot of attention beyond the Eritrean/Ethiopian and African music scene. He really impressed the crowds at the Gladstone, and Sneaky Dee's earlier this year. Globe & Mail music writer Carl Wilson on his music site (www.zoilus.com) wrote about the latter show, "Eritrean-Canadian musician Daniel Nebiat and band blew the room away last night at Wavelength - his gorgeous, intricate vocals and electric krar wizardry combining with the bass and keyboard (mostly as a horn section) and drum machine to create a hurricane of beautiful, danceable sound."

He also impressed large audiences last year at the Horn of Africa concert (Glenn Gould Studio) and Afrofest 2006. At Harbourfront, he'll be accompanied by Saba & Helena of Nouvel Exposé Dance Troupe.

If that double bill doesn't wear you out, you may still be able to catch the end of NYC-Afropop stars Antibalas at the Phoenix, or Ugandan lukembé (thumb piano) player Achilla Orru (a two-time Juno Award winner) at Safari Village, 1690 Danforth at Coxwell.

Links:
Seun Kuti: "In the Name of the Father" , Afropop profile, Eye Weekly profile. Audio clips on Music Africa MySpace page.

Daniel Nebiat: His MySpace page (with audio); an interview done for the Sneaky Dee's/Wavelength show; my photos from his Gladstone show

 

b) Sunday: One word for Canada Day: MAVIS

Femi Kuti plays the High Life music festival at the Docks that day, but I think the highlight here is the incomparable Mavis Staples closing the Toronto Jazz Festival. Her newest CD, We'll Never Turn Back, honouring the Freedom Fighters of the 60's (and today) is terrific. Mavis is terrific.

Links:
Video of "Eye on the Prize" on of the new CD's songs
Video: The Staple Singers in Ghana, 1971, "When Will We Be Paid?"
Video: The Staples with The Band, "The Weight"

Mavis on radio with Charlie Gillett, Christmas Day, 2004. Possibly the most enjoyable radio show I've ever listened to. Go to the Mondomix radio page. Under "The sound of the world", scroll down under "Last programmes" for Mavis Staples, Part 1 and Part 2.

 

c) Monday: Superb Double-bill

Harbourfront puts on what should be one of the double-bills of the year... FREE.

3pm, Andy Palacio & the Garifuna Collective.
Andy is one of the leading performers of Garifuna music (and presevers of the culture). The Garifuna are based across several Central American countries, and are descended from shipwrecked West African slaves and the native Caribs. His CD, Watina is superb.

4:30: Los Munequito de Matanzas
One of the top rumba bands from Cuba.

These shows will also be broadcast live on CIUT-FM, 89.5

Links:
Andy's MySpace page (with audio)
Rock, Paper, Scissors: extensive background on him, his music and the Gaifuna
Afropop interview

 

2. UPCOMING

Things don't slow down after this weekend. A few shows to watch for:

July 3: Hannah Burgé, with Hendrik Merukens at the Trane Studio
Brazillian samba and jazz, featuring one of the world's great harmonica maestros in a guest appearance. Trane Studio, 964 Bathurst St. 9pm, $15

July 5: Toumani Diabaté (opening: Katenen Dioubaté) at Harbourfront
One of the most anticipated shows of the year. For many, Toumani is the greatest kora player in the world. He is best known for his beautiful work on CD's like New Ancient Strings, or his Grammy winning In The Heart of the Moon (with Ali Farka Touré), but this is his first North American tour with his big dance band, the Symmetric Orchestra, as heard on his terrific 2006 CD, Boulevard de l'Independance. The kick-off to Afrofest.

Don't miss this one.

Katenan Dioubaté is the Toronto-based griot who impressed many people at the sold-out tribute show to

 

July 7-8: Afrofest
Too big an event to describe in this newsletter--  it always gets bigger and better. Two free days of great music and great vibes. A huge lineup of great musicians from Africa and around the world, closing on Sunday with Lura from Cape Verde and the great Kenyan/Congolese Samba Mapangala and Orchestra Virunga.

Links: Music Africa's web site and MySpace page.

Also:

July 5-12: Small World Music's Summerworld Festival with Folklore Urbano, Hendrik Meurkens, Wax Poetic, Sambasunda, NYA Soleil, SYNCOP and Telmary & Sr. Mandrill. See http://smallworldmusic.com/

July 15: Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca. Great Congolese-Cuban sounds, free at Harbourfront.

July 21-22: The 8th annual Bana Y'Afrique festival, free at Yonge-Dundas Square. http://www.africanewmusic.org/

July 22: The Zimbabwean mbira master, Stella Chiweshe is at the Berkeley Church

July 23: Billy Joe Shaver at Hugh's Room. The great American poet/songwriter/singer returns to town.  More on this later. (or see my profile of him here).

J

 

3. OTHER: Audio, video & a trip to Kenya

a) Zimbabwe Treasures

Matsuli Music, a gem of a source for music -- especially downloads -- is featuring 3 volumes of Zimbabwean music, 1981-87. Downloadable free for a limited time. Check http://matsuli.blogspot.com/. Scroll down to "Hot Sounds from Harare"

 

b) Delbert McClinton

Delbert McClinton is a musician hard to peg, for those who like to classify music. Country, blues, rock, soul? I just call him soulful. He's been around a long time, never become famous. So, when he plays somewhere, inevitably, the local media trots out his "claim to fame": that he taught John Lennon how to play the harmonica for the Beatles' "Love Me Do"

In a great YouTube clip, Delbert explains where that misinformation comes from, and has a pretty funny description of the skills needed to learn harmonica.

I wish someone would bring Delbert to town.

 

c) Trip to Kenya

Last newsletter, I mentioned a trip to Kenya in early 2008 being organized by Martha and Tony of Safari Village restaurant, but the link wasn't correct. This is the link: http://to-music.ca/kenya_trip.htm

John Leeson
www.to-music.ca

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