Shows at the Lula last week
As noted in another post, Thomas Mapfumo closed out Afrofest, but because some of his band members didn’t get visas for Canada, filled in with some local musicians (including guitarist Larry Lewis & Tich Maredza on bass).  Mapfumo wasn’t happy with the struggles to get the tightness he wanted, but those who were at both shows agreed that the whole band was much better with another day under their belts on the Monday night at the Lula, and the dance floor was busy.

The next night, Bombino (Omara Moctar), the Tuareg guitarist/singer and his band knocked out the audience at the same club. The only bad side of that night was the small crowd.

Everyone I spoke to agreed it was one of the year’s highlights. It’s too bad they didn’t play Afrofest: they would have knocked out the whole park!

Click here for more about him and his music.

Update (Jul 25): See www.videos.to-music.ca for some videos of the two shows.

 

RIP,  Jerry Ragovoy
Songwriter Jerry Ragovoy (“Time is on my side”, “Piece of my heart”) & producer (Miriam Makeba’s “Pata Pata”) died this week. Listen to a good NPR appreciation. Obituary from The Guardian here.

 

Video: “Congotronics vs Rockers“

 

Blues CD: “Peyton on Patton”
A new tribute CD to Mississippi Delta blues creator Charlie Patton by Reverend Peyton (of Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band).

Review & video on No Depression website