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This is a very brief, last-minute
reminder of this weekend's highlights.
In this issue:
1. Last weekend
2. Don't miss this weekend: Toumani Diabaté
3. Or this: Afrofest 2007
4. Also this weekend
1. LAST WEEKEND:
Last weekend, as expected, was
a musical gold mine. Friday night, Seun Kuti eerily (but
spectacularly) channeled the spirit of his late father. Sunday
night, while some grooved to brother Femi, others fell
ecstatically in love with the magnificent Mavis Staples. Monday
afternoon, Andy Palacio and the Garifuna Collective played their
unique and excellent Garifuna rhythms (Plea to area
promoters: bring them back soon!), followed by the terrific
Los Munequitos de Matanzas from Cuba.
Coming up in an upcoming
newsletter: comments and photos from some superb recent
performances, including the above shows, the Handsome Ned
tribute, Mighty Popo and others.
2. DON'T MISS THIS WEEKEND:
Toumani Diabaté
There's been plenty of other
great music over the last week, but I wanted to make sure that
nobody who has any interest in African music misses Thursday
night's concert by Toumani Diabate and the Symmetric
Orchestra from Mali.
The "Prince of the Kora" brings
his big dance band to Harbourfront Thursday night (July 5). Some
suggest this may be a "once in a lifetime opportunity"... and
they may be right. I know I've been waiting for years to see
Toumani; at least 2 of his appearances here over the last 15
years or so were cancelled. From what I understand, he is not an
easy act to book.
So, if you're thinking, "I'll
catch him next time", you may not have the chance, especially
with his big band.
Tuesday's Globe & Mail
carried a
nice article (by Li Robbins) on him, emphasizing his griot
roots. (He's the 71st generation
kora player). He often takes the kora in different directions
than his ancestors, but he says,
"It's true I'm not playing
exactly like my father," he says, speaking by phone from
Amsterdam. "But he wasn't playing exactly like his father
either."
...
"If we take a sound from
400 years ago, we take the arrangement from today. If we
compose a new song today [for the band], we use an
arrangement from hundreds of years ago. So you see it is the
past meeting the present - for the future."
Many African music fans assume
this will be THE African music show of the year.
Guinean griot Katenen Dioubaté
opens at 8pm; Toumani Diabaté is at 9:30pm. Tickets $25 adv, $30
day of show.
Details here.
3. AFROFEST
The 18th annual will be (as the
cliché goes), "bigger and better than ever". But, as is the case
with many clichés, that's the truth.
Sunday night closing acts
Lura (Cape Verde) and Kenyan/Congolese superstars
Samba Mapangala
and Orchestra Virunga may be the biggest names, but
there's a lot of amazing music scheduled the entire weekend.
Featuring: three stages (main
stage, workshops & Youth Zone); the popular Children's Village;
a huge variety of foods, arts and crafts; and finally, with
perfect Afrofest weather forecasted, the beer tent shouldl be a
popular destination as well.
Queen's Park, noon-10:30pm,
both days. Cost for an all-inclusive ticket for the weekend:
FREE.
http://www.myspace.com/musicafrica features some audio and
video clips
http://www.musicafrica.org/afrofest07.htm or
http://www.to-music.ca/events.htm for lineup info.
4. ALSO THIS WEEKEND
If I was considering an
alternative to Afrofest, I'd be heading to the
Montreal Jazz Festival to see the fantastic Ethiopian star,
Mahmoud Ahmed (July 8). See
http://to-music.ca/music_lib.htm#Mahmoud_Ahmed
In town, on Friday night,
Hugh's Room presents the
interesting singer/fiddler,
Carrie Rodriguez.
I'm not familiar enough with her music to make a recommendation,
but she has been receiving some excellent press.
Of course, there's plenty more
music coming up. Watch for another newsletter, or keep an eye on
http://www.to-music.ca/events.htm
John Leeson
www.to-music.ca
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