This is just an event listing
newsletter, in order to catch up on the many happenings starting off
Black History Month, starting with a great night tonight, Friday February 1.
Also, check out NOW magazine's
Jan. 31 issue with extensive articles, including "Black
on Track: Charting African American music history".
Check my
Event listings for
details of these and many other shows and events.
a) Gladstone Hotel: A triple-play!
Njacko Backo's DVD Release (Mama
Oh)
The Cameroonian drummer and kalimba player plays with his group Kalimba
Kalimba and is joined by guests Donné Roberts (African Guitar Summit) and
Jacques Yams. A preview of some of the videos is on YouTube
here.
In the Ballroom. Doors open 8:30pm. $15,
$25 with DVD.
Ruth
Mathiang (photo)
The Sudanese-born singer kicks off the free
Friday night African music
series for February, sponsored by Music Africa and the Gladstone. See a
video of her Afrofest 2007 performance. Free
Spence Gallery/Adam Solomon
Opening reception for "Legacy", an art exhibit and sale for Black
History month, running Feb 1-3 at the Gladstone, organized by the Mirvish
Village gallery. Meet the artists. Music by Adam Solomon of Tikisa and
African Guitar Summit. Free
b) Elsewhere in town tonight
Samba Squad rocks the Lula Lounge
Great Latin jazz with Bernardo Padron
& Eliana Cuevas at the Music Gallery
Country with The Rizdales at the
Dakota
c) Movies opening
Honeydripper,
directed by John Sayles opens tonight at the Carlton. One of
America's greatest film directors, his movies are always
well-crafted, intelligent, passionate and moving. This is a
story set around a run-down blues joint in rural Alabama in
1950, and envisions "one of" the beginnings of rock & roll, as
well as a bit of a look at the history of black music. It stars
Gary Clark Jr, Danny Glover, Keb Mo, Stacy Keach & Mary
Steenburgen. See article and review in this week's NOW.
The
Future is Unrwritten: a documentary on the life of
drummer Joe Strummer Friday and Saturday at the Royal, 608
College.
Later in the month (a brief listing)
Africa Salsa: an innovative
African/Latin experiment with some of Toronto's top musicians from those
backgrounds including Adam Solomon, Donné Roberts, Lady Son, Richard
Underhill, Roberto Linares Brown and more.
Their debut will be on Feb. 8 at the Lula,
but you can catch a preview on CBC Radio 1, "Big City Small World", Feb. 2,
5pm.
Also:
Adam Solmon & Tikisa, Feb. 7 at the
Lula
Afrafronto, Feb. 8 at the Gladstone.
(Free). Ghanaian Palm Wine music from African Guitar Summit musicians Pa Joe
and Theo Yaw Boyakye
John Hammond: Feb. 8-9 at Hugh's
Room. 40 years of blues, 30 albums, a grammy and lots of history!
"African Footprint", Feb. 7-9 at the
Sony Centre. "South African's longest running show" performs the history of
that country thought music and dance. Check a video preview
here
Hugh Masekela at the Phoenix, Feb.
15. Small World Music brings the great South African trumpeter back to town.
Lots more: Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt, Métis
fiddling, Autorickshaw, Kim Wilson, Buckwheat Zydeco, Roberto Linares Brown
CD Release, Cowboy Junkies, Winter Nowruz (Persian New Year)... just a
partial list of February music.
The
events page has details of these plus many more shows through winter and
early spring.
John Leeson
www.to-music.ca
