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HIGHLIGHTS:
Some favourite photos /and or concerts and shows
(Updated October /06).
AFRICAN
MUSIC:
Includes Aster Aweke, Amadou & Mariam, Refugee
All-Stars, Baaba Maal, Oliver Mtukudzi, King Sunny Ade,
African Guitar Summit, Orchestra Baobab, Bembeya Jazz, Tinariwen,
Mahmoud Ahmed and lots more.
OTHER:
Includes Debashish Battacharya, Mighty Sparrow,
Wanda Jackson Sidi Goma, Trio Joubran, Billy Joe Shaver, David Murray, Radio Kabul, Buddy Miller, Leon Russell, Lhasa, Lila Downs, and more.
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To view
pictures:
Each concert is contained in its own
photo album. You can also link to an album of all shows in a month,
or visit the
Main Gallery Page).
Inside each album, you can
click on individual photos, or click the "slideshow"
link in the upper right. Right below the "slideshow" link,
you'll see other links that take you up a level, e.g. from an
individual show album to the album grouping all the shows that
month (or months).
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2007: December |
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Dec. 25: MAHMOUD
AHMED at the Lithuanian House
One of my
shows of the year.
What a Christmas treat! One of the
great performers of African music, Mahmoud Ahmed is the biggest star
of Ethiopian music. His early (1970's) recordings, later released in
the West in the great
Ethiopiques series had an impact on Western ears similar to the
reissues of Robert Johnson's delta blues.
He is still a dynamic and powerful
performer. In 2007, he won the
BBC Radio 3 World Music Award for Africa. His live performances
draw a huge, enthusiastic Ethiopian audience.
Some links: Listen to his
2005 WOMAD concert (click
"listen to this
gig"). On YouTube, catch a
few short clips
from this concert, and longer ones:
from Paris
-- bouncing camera, but with the feel of a Mahmoud show, and
another one
with some grungy sound, but with all
the energy and excitement intact. See also my photos from
his 2003 Toronto
concert. |
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Dec. 21: ZALE SECK and DEAN CRONE
at the Lula Lounge Photos to come. Click thumbnail for larger
image. The Montreal-based
Senegalese griot, guitarist and drummer truly rocked the Lula
in a holiday party organized by Karibuni Radio (CIUT FM) and Music
Africa. |
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Dec. 9: ALPHA YAYA DIALLO at
the Lula Lounge. Photos to come. Click thumbnail for larger
image. A rare Toronto
appearance by the multiple-Juno award winning member of the African
Guitar Summit, Alpha's distinctive and beautiful guitar work helped
fill the Lula on a December night. A couple of high-energy dancers,
and a guest appearance by fellow AGS guitarist, Donné Roberts helped
keep the night cooking.
Sponsored by Small World Music and
Music Africa
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Dec. 5: STELLA CHIWESHE at the
NOW Lounge Photos to come. Click thumbnail for larger
image. The
Queen of Zimbabwean mbira,
she put on a
superb summer concert here with her Earthquake Band. In the fall
of 2007, she was living in Toronto for several months, giving mbira
lessons, and conducting spiritual circles, as well as doing the
occasional public solo performance like this one.
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Dec. 5: ANNE LEDERMAN
at the Pattie Walker Studio.
Photos to come. Click thumbnail for larger
image. The
Toronto fiddler who
performs on her own, and in various bands and projects organized
this fundraiser, together with the Métis Artists Collective for the
Youth Elder project, bringing togethe some of the elder Métis
traditional fiddlers, with some of the best young fiddlers to help
preserve and develop Métis fiddling traditions. Performances are
planned in Toronto in summer, 2008. |
2007: October-November |
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Nov. 27: GRUPO DESANDANN
at the Church of the Holy Trinity.
Click
thumbnail for larger image.
One of my shows of the
year.
The
9-member, (mostly) acapella Cuban group, from Haitian
background, with their gorgeous voices and harmonies is a
favourite of mine. It was unfortunate that more people didn't
catch this wondeful show (there were about 100 people), but the applause and cheers
throughout the show sounded like one 2 to 3 times larger.
Fortunately, for those who missed this concert, the group will be back
in town in early June, perhaps promoting their just-recorded CD,
made with Juno winner Jane Bunnett,
who featured them on her 2002 CD, Cuban Odyssey. Keep an
eye on this website.
Their 1999 CD, Descendents is a gem. It's available on
CD Baby, which features
extended (2 minute) samples from all its cuts. Some video clips
from the concert have been posted on
YouTube, although the sound quality doesn't do their voices
justice.
An interesting
article
about their attempts to perform several years ago in Miami: home to
large Haitian and Cuban populations.
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Nov. 20:
TINARIWEN at the Mod Club
"One of the most devastatingly mean and lowdown sounds to
have come out of Africa." - Songlines magazine. The
Tuareg musicians from Mali have a fascinating history, and
great, rocking desert music. They recently opened for the
Rolling Stones, a group they have sometimes been compared to.
An interesting mini-documentary/profile is available on
YouTube:
Part 1 /
Part 2. See my
photos
of their 2005 Harbourfront concert here. You can here their full
2007 WOMAD set
here. Their website is
here.
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Nov. 1: TONY COX & JABULANI at
the NOW Lounge Photos to come. Click thumbnail for larger
image. Touring South
African acoustic guitarist Cox
opened for the Toronto-based South African trio. |
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Oct. 31: MR. SOMETHING SOMETHING &
IKWUNGA at the Lula Lounge Photos to come. Click
thumbnail for larger image.
CD Release for Deep Sleep, the
collaboration between the
Toronto-based Afrobeat
group, and the Nigerian, Baltimore-based poet. The night was
also a Halloween celebration, with much of the full house in
costume. |
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Oct. 5: OLIVER MTUKUDZI at
Healey's Roadhouse. Click thumbnail for larger
image One of my
shows of the year.
Part of the
Small World Music
Festival. See
http://www.tukumusic.co.zw/. See also my photos of Tuku from
2005 here. |
2007: August-September |
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Sep. 23: AMAZONES at the Lula
Lounge Photos to come. Click thumbnail for larger image
(The Women Master Drummers of Guinea)
Part of the
Small World Music
Festival. See http://www.amazoneswomandrummers.com/ |
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Sep. 1: NEWAY
DEBEBE at The Opera House
There aren't many musical events as
energetic and exciting as a concert with one of the big stars of
Ethiopian music scene, and a full house of enthusiastic and ready to
dance fans.
Neway put out as much energy as the
audience on the floor did... and that's impressive! |
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Aug. 1: JAYME STONE at Hugh's
Room Photos to come
The Toronto-born player explores the
African roots of the banjo, having recently spent 6 weeks in Mali.
Musicians playing with him include
two musicians from Mali: Jah Youssef (kamale
n'goni) and
Mansa Sissoko (kora). See
www.jaymestone.com. |
2007: July |
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Jul. 23: BILLY JOE SHAVER at
Hugh's Room. Click thumbnail
for larger image. One of
my shows of the year.
One of my favourite performers, the great Texas
singer/songwriter/poet. My appreciation of the man and his
music
is here.
My photos of his 2005 Harbourfront Centre show are
here.
My video page has a
few video clips of Billy Joe;
see also the July 19
article in NOW weekly.
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Jul. 22: STELLA CHIWESHE
at the
Berkeley Church. Click thumbnail
for larger image. One of
my shows of the year.
"The queen of Zimbabwean mbira" put on an amazing performance, with
her aptly named Earthquake Band. See
this website for more about her, and check this
YouTube video
Her summer tour was organized by
Africville Productions, a
new music production company, which also presents exhibits of
Zimbabwean stone sculpture. |
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Jul. 15: RICARDO LEMVO & MAKINA
LOCA at Harbourfront. Photos to come
Great Cuban-Congolese rumba. |
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Jul. 7-8: AFROFEST 2007 at
Queen's Park. The best two
days of African music and spirit around. Lots of photos to come.
Posted so far:
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Jul. 5: TOUMANI DIABATÉ & THE
SYMMETRIC ORCHESTRA at Harbourfront
One of my
shows of the year.
The world's greatest kora player (from
Mali), brought his dance band, for what might be the best African
music concert of the year (so far!). A fantastic kick off to
Afrofest 2007.
Click thumbnail for larger image.
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Jul. 5: KATENEN
"CHEKA" DIOUBATÉ at
Harbourfront The Guinean-born
griot performed with her band, Snowgriots, an excellent band of local musicians.
See her MySpace page. |
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Jul. 2: ANDY PALACIO & THE GARIFUNA
COLLECTIVE at Harbourfront. Click thumbnail
for larger image. One of
my shows of the year.
As expected, this was one of this summer's highlight shows, and part
of what might be the best double bill of the year.
For some background on Andy, his music, and the
history and music of the Garifuna people of Central America, who
brought West African musical traditions to Central America see
this
webpage. You can also read an interview of Andy done by Banning
Eyre of Afropop Worldwide
here.
Hear some music from his great CD, Watina on his
MySpace page.
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Jul. 2: LOS MUNEQUITO DE MATANZAS
at Harbourfront. Click thumbnail for larger
image. Perhaps Cuba's
greatest rumba band in a rare appearance helped complete a superb
(free!) double bill. |
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Jul. 1: MAVIS
STAPLES at the Toronto Jazz Festival
One of my
shows of the year.
The greatest concert of the year (so
far). Mavis's voice, strength, personality, and history are simply
astounding. If you missed it, you should find out the next show of
hers you can catch.
Some of my favourite Mavis links:
-
Video of "Eye
on the Prize" - a video from her new CD.
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Video: The Staple Singers in Ghana, 1971,
"When Will We Be
Paid?"
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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. |
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Jul. 1: REBIRTH BRASS BAND at
the Toronto Jazz Festival - Photos to come. Click thumbnail for
larger image.
Opening for Mavis Staples |
2007: June |
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Jun. 29:
SEUN KUTI
& EGYPT 80 at Harbourfront
Centre - Click thumbnail for larger image.
One of my
shows of the year.
The younger son of Fela Kuti
channelled his late father on stage at Harbourfront. He first
performed with Fela at age 8, and his show, with Fela's band was
eerily like watching Fela.
The most un-Fela aspect of the
night was the length. The band was getting into the groove when
the show ended after just 85 minutes. (Two nights later, older
brother Femi played for four hours at the Docks).
Links: his
MySpace page, and
some recent articles:
"In
the Name of the Father" ,
Afropop profile,
Eye Weekly profile.
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Jun. 29: DANIEL NEBIAT at Harbourfront
Centre - Photos to come. Click thumbnail for larger image.
The Toronto-based Eritrean krar player Nebiat,
performed with Waleed Abdulhamid and Saba of Nouvel Exposé.
Hear some of his music on his
MySpace page.
You can also read an interesting
interview
done for his March 2007 gig at Sneaky Dee's/Wavelength. See
my photos from his
Gladstone show
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Jun. 25: ADAM SOLOMON & TIKISA: Video
shoot Photographed during a
promotional video shoot at Audiolab Studios, Toronto. |
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Jun. 16: TRIBUTE TO HANDSOME NED at
the Horseshoe
One of my
shows of the year.
Marking the 20th anniversary of the
death of Toronto's "Godfather of Rockabilly": Robin Masyk, aka
Handsome Ned. The night featured four hours of music by Ned and in
his spirit, with a lengthy list of guest artists, plus a trailer for
the upcoming documentary, The Name is Ned.
Read an
account of the show on Zoilus.com, and see my note about Ned in
the
Jan. 24 newsletter.
As well, you can find more about him, and hear some of his music on
his
MySpace page. |
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Jun. 8: MIGHTY POPO at the Lula Lounge-
Photos to come.
What a hot night. It marked the
Toronto CD release of Popo's new CD,
Muhazi, and also was Music Africa's press launch for Afrofest
2007 |
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Jun. 8: JOE BOYD at the NOW Lounge
- Photos to come |
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Jun. 2: NJACKO BACKO / VAL WOLOSHYN
WEDDING at the Muhtadi Drum Festival
I was happy to be asked to take the
wedding photos of Njacko & Val, who were married the same place they
first met: at the Muhtadi International Drum Festival at Queen's
Park. Friends joined for lunch afterward, and the reception was the
next day at the Gladstone Hotel. |
2007: April-May |
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May 11: BA CISSOKO
at the Lula Lounge (Opening: Kikijiko)
One of my
shows of the year.
The Guinean musician brought his dual-kora
group to town to rock (and roll) a sold-out Lula Lounge, living up
to the title of his latest CD, Electric Griot Land. You can
hear a full concert of theirs, from the 2004 WOMAD festival in the
U.K.
here. I also have photos from his 2005 Harbourfront show
here.
Toronto/Sudanese hiphop singer
Kikijiko
opened, backed by a group of young Southern Sudanese
musicians.
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May 9: "ODESSA/HAVANA" (David
Buchbinder with Hilario Duran) at the Lula Lounge Photos to come. |
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Apr. 19: FUZE (Mel M'rabet and
Victor Nesrallah) at the Trane Studio
The Toronto launch of Parallel
Views, a CD that beautifully mixes the musics of oud player Mel
M'rabet with his Spanish/Moroccan influences with that of Victor
Nesrallah (guitar/resonator) whose music roots include blues, folk,
jazz and Arabic classic music. More info and some samples on Mel's
Myspace page.
Photos to come. |
2007: February-March |
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Mar. 29: ADAM
SOLOMON & TIKISA at the Lula Lounge
The CD release for Adam's new Roots
Rhythms, featuring music based on various Kenyan rhythms. The show
also featured Pa Joe, Theo Yaw Boyakye, Muhtadi & Donné Roberts. |
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Feb. 15: AFRICAN DANCE ENSEMBLE at
the Lula Lounge "Joy of
Mama Africa:
a night of music, drumming dance, and song." Just as the show was
advertised, it was a joyous occasion, and the loud, strong rhythms
soon had the dance floor jammed. See the group's website:
http://www.afridance.com/
Photos to come.
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VIEUX FARKA TOURÉ -- Two shows:
- Feb 16 at Aeolian Hall (London, Ont.)
- Feb 10 at Harbourfront Centre
One of my
shows of the year.
The son of the late Ali Farka Touré
put such an outstanding performance on Feb. 10, I had to go see him again on the 16th. New to the world
stage, he seems set for great things. For more about him, see his
website (with audio and video)
or
John Goddard's Feb. 8
Toronto Star article. As well, the Rock, Paper, Scissors
website has extensive
links to press coverage and reviews, and also a
profile of him.
Catch some great video clips of VFT
playing solo in Bamako, Mali.
Part
1,
2,
3,
4 |
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Feb 10: DONNÉ ROBERTS: Making his new music video
The song is "Hira 'n' Taolo" (Voices
from the ancestors) from his Rhythm was Born CD. (I may or may not
appear in the video, depending on the editor's good or bad taste...) |
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Feb 9: ADAM SOLOMON & TIKISA at Safari Village Restaurant
Photos to come |
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Feb 9: FOJEBA at the Gladstone Hotel
Jean-Baptiste Foaleng, aka Fojeba.
Part of the Music Africa/Gladstone series, "Singers Players, Griots
of Toronto"
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Feb. 3: TAMSIR
SECK at Earthsong The
Senegalese griot, drummer and dancer brings energy and spirit to
every performance. He will also perform Feb. 16 at the Gladstone.
See events page. |
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Feb. 2: DANIEL
NEBIAT at the Gladstone Hotel
Eritrean krar player opened Music
Africa's "Singers Players, Griots of Toronto", every Friday night in
February. |
2007 January |
Boubacar Diabaté
Katenen Diobaté |
Jan. 26:
TRIBUTE TO BOUBACAR DIABATÉ at the NOW Lounge
One of my
shows of the year.
A wonderful memorial and tribute,
organized by Music Africa for
the late El-Hadj Boubacar Diabaté, a master kora player and griot,
originally from Senegal who passed away in Montréal in October 2006.
A huge collection of performers,
most of whom who knew or worked with Boubacar provided over 4 hours
of almost non-stop music and tribute in the intimate NOW Lounge.
Poet Kwame Stephens opened,
followed by Kassoum Diamoutene, Donné Roberts, Muhtadi, Robert
Simms, Jacques Yamdjie, Katenen Diobaté, Njacko Backo & the Toumkak Drummers,
Tamsir Seck & Sani Abu.
A similar tribute was held the same
night in Montréal.Click here
for the Music Africa press release.
Photo of Boubacar courtesy of
Music Africa |
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Jan. 13: ADAM
SOLOMON at Oakwood Village Library
The opening reception for "African
Images" exhibit sponsored by
Spence Gallery |
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Jan. 13: DONNÉ
ROBERTS at Earthsong
Celebrating the birthday of owner Ilse Lichtenberger. |
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Jan. 12: NJACKO
BACKO & KALIMBA KALIMBA at the Gladstone Hotel
Celebrating the first anniversary of
the opening of the beautifully restored and renovated 1889 hotel. |
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Jan. 12: HILARIO
DURAN at the Gladstone Hotel |
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See also:
2009 photos
2008 photos
2006 photos
2005 photos
2002-2004 photos
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