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Noting a few significant events coming up, and some world music news from abroad.

1. Upcoming Events
    -- Grupo Vocal Desandann
    -- Free Burma benefit
    -- more
2. Other notes:
    --  BBC World Music Award Nominations
    --  WOMEX highlights
 

 

1. UPCOMING SHOWS
Some significant events in November, including appearances in town by some pretty big names:

a) Grupo Vocal Desandann: Nov. 27

A personal favourite of mine, the 10-member Haitian-Cuban vocal group makes a rare visit to Toronto. Their gorgeous voices and harmonies might just knock you out too.

Their 1999 CD, Descendents is a gem. It's available on CD Baby, which features extended samples from all its cuts. Try listening to them, and not want to rush out to see them.

For this show, they will be playing with Juno winner Jane Bunnett, who featured them on her 2002 CD, Cuban Odyssey, and has recently been recording with them again.

Church of the Holy Trinity, 8pm. $25. For tickets or information: jazz@artofjazz.org or 416 840-7663

 

b) "Free Burma" Benefit:

A night to raise awareness of the situation in Burma, as well as to raise funds for democracy activists in that country.

Performers who are donating their time include Adam Solomon, CaneFire, Faith Nolan, Fern Lindzon, Russell Leon Band, Mel M’Rabet, Yoma Maung, DJ Billy Bryans and others. Speakers include Bob Rae, Jack Layton and Minthura Wynn.

Doors 7, show 7:30. Admission by donation (PWYC). Click here for more details

For background information on Burma and the situation there, see www.cfob.org, www.irrawaddy.org  or www.dvb.no

 

c) Some other upcoming shows
See www.to-music.ca/events.htm for details and links for these and more shows

Nov. 27: Downchild Blues Band at Hugh's Room

Nov. 29: Adam Solomon & Tikisa at the Trane Studio

Nov. 29: Cumbiadelic Circus with Plan C + Psychotropical Orchestra at the Lula Lounge

Nov. 30: Mr Something Something at the Silver Dollar

Dec. 1: Lucky Peterson at The Silver Dollar

Dec. 1: "African Holiday Festival" at Earthsong featuring Adam Solomon & Tikisa, Kenyan snacks from Safari Village and a fundraiser for the Lumu Kabasinde Children's Foundation, featuring lithographs and prints by the Ugandan artist David Kibuuka

Dec. 2-3: Loundon Wainright III at Hugh's Room

Dec. 9: Alpha Yaya Diallo at the Lula Lounge. A rare Toronto performance by the Vancouver-based African Guitar Summit member.

Dec. 11: Michelle Shocked at Hugh's Room

Dec. 16: Honeyboy Edwards at Hugh's Room

 

2. OTHER NOTES

a) 2008 BBC World Music Award Nominations

Nominations for most categories of these major world music awards have now been announced. Click here for the list. Nominees who performed in Toronto in 2007 include Tinariwen (hope some of you caught their sold-out show last week!), Toumani Diabaté and the Symmetric Orchestra, Andy Palacio, Anoushka Shankar, Manu Chao and Vieux Farka Touré. Nominations for Album of the Year are still to be announced, as is voting or the Audience Award.
 

b) WOMEX "stars"

WOMEX, the "World Music Expo", and the largest gathering of music professionals in this field was held last month in Seville, Spain. After the conference, one participant asked numerous attendees, among other questions, to name their three artist "discoveries" or highlights.

I looked over the responses, and noted those artists who were named by three or four different attendees:

Bajofondo Tangoclub (Argentina), Mamani Keita & Nicolas Repac, Yamandu Costa (Brazillian guitarist), Toumast (Toureg group from Mali), Taksim Trio (Turkey).

Artists to watch (and listen) for!

However, Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 received 11 picks! Eric Herman (originally from Toronto, who produced Vieux Farka Touré's debut CD said), "I had never seen them live before – hadn’t truly lived ’til I did!" Kuti, the youngest son of Fela, certainly impressed many of us at Harbourfront this summer.

Andy Palacio and the Garifuna Collective (who also put on a superb Harbourfront performance this summer) were co-winners of the WOMEX Award along with his CD's producer, Ivan Duran.

Hopefully, many of the newer artists who performed at WOMEX will be making their way to Toronto in 2008.

  

John Leeson
www.to-music.ca