Monthly Archives: November 2011

Bombino: Nov 29 concert archived online & interview

  November 29, 2011 - 6:50 pm | ,
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Update: Full audio of this concert is archived here The excellent new Tuareg guitarist, Omar Moctar, known as Bombino, played a blistering set this past July at the Lula Lounge, to a highly enthusiastic, but much-too-small audience. He’s touring again, but unfortunately will miss Toronto this time around. Catch him live online though, in a concert webcast by NPR from New York club, Le Poisson Rouge tonight at 8pm. Link & article here Also read an interview and catch some of his album, Agadex, plus some video on Okayafrica here

Youssou N’Dour to Put Music on Hold and Turn to Politics

  November 29, 2011 - 4:49 pm | ,
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From the New York Times“Arts Beat”: With his country gearing up for a hotly contested presidential election early next year the Senegalese singer and songwriter Youssou N’Dour, one of the biggest stars of the “world music” genre, is putting his career on hold to plunge into the political fray. It’s not clear in what capacity — as a candidate for public office himself, or just lending his prestige and support to someone already in the running — or for how long, but he made the announcement over the weekend and set a date to stop performing. Read the full article … Continue reading →

Benefit concert for John Collins with Afrafranto: Dec. 11: Updated Dec 10

  November 23, 2011 - 1:13 pm | , ,
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One of the greatest archivists and collectors of West African music, Professor John Collins of Ghana last month experienced a severe flood and mudslide, which damaaged and destroyed much of the material he has been assembling since the 1970’s. His home is in the same premises, and his family narrowly escapted drowning. The Bokoor African Popular Music Archives Foundation (BAPMAF) is a Ghanaian NGO established in 1990. BAPMAF’s function is to preserve African popular & traditional performance and provide a resource centre for arts projects in Ghana and the international community. BAPMAF archival holdings include 700 photographs, 700 publications, as … Continue reading →

Odds, ends & catchups

  November 23, 2011 - 4:29 am | , , , ,
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As noted previously, I haven’t been able to post updates or newsletters recently. The events page (www.events.to-music.ca) now has extensive updates through the new year. Below are a few scatttered items that have been accumulating recently, in no particular order: “Music for Peace” Steve Paikin, on TVO’s “The Agenda” interviews David Buchbinder (Flying Klezmer Bulgar Band, Ashkenaz and the new organization, Diasporic Genius) and Bassam Bishara (oud player and musical director of Arabesque Dance Company). The guests discuss (to a rather naive Paikin, in my view) their thoughts on Israeli/Palestinian conflict and connections, politics and music. They had collaborated on … Continue reading →

Bassekou… and other upcoming events

  November 23, 2011 - 3:08 am | ,
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A few upcoming shows of note. Details of these, and many more (going into the new year) are posted at www.events.to-music.ca   Nov. 27: Bassekou Kouyaté & Ngoni Ba West African music fans around Toronto have been looking forward to this Sunday’s concert for some time: Bassekou Kouyaté and Ngoni Ba make their second Toronto appearance at the Great Hall (Queen W & Dovercourt). Anyone who saw this band — the only all-ngoni band in the world! — last year at Luminato will definitely be back for more. For my tastes, the group is one of the top live performances … Continue reading →