tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-220631252012-05-20T13:41:55.458-05:00Afrofunk Forumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02034294205883631157noreply@blogger.comBlogger180125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22063125.post-32374402835799682802012-03-04T13:06:00.000-05:002012-03-11T12:11:56.648-05:00

By Robert Fox Last year, Ghanain jazz-funk pioneer Ebo Taylor put out his first recording in more than 30 years, Love and Death, a remake of the1980 release "Conflict."  That was great news for afrobeat fans around the world, as Taylor was a key figure in the fervent West African music scene in the early 1970s.  Originally trained as a jazz musician, he was part of highlife bands the

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By Robert Fox Since 2002, Soundway Records from the UK has set the standard for unearthing and re-releasing crucial recordings from the golden era of 70s-era West African big band music. As much as anyone in the world, they can take credit for bringing modern attention to this incredibly creative and compelling period of musical output.  In recent years, they have expanded their reach to

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Fadel Barro and Simon (right), Y’en A Marre founders, at polling station to vote and monitor By Michael Shereikis No beating about the bush here, eh Abdoulaye? Revolution heading south...where y'at Bongo, Biya, et al? From 'kola (Bukola Jejeloye) of the The Afropop Blog, the official blog of Afropop Worldwide:  On February 26th, the much anticipated elections in the West African country of

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By Robert Fox Fun recent mashup of Fela and classic hip hop innovators De La Soul by producer Amerigo Gazaway of Gummy Soul, who describes the project as follows: What do you get when you put together afrobeat legend Fela Kuti and rap pioneers De La Soul? You get Fela Soul, a musical tapestry created by Gummy Soul artist Amerigo Gazaway. More than just a clever title, Fela Soul is an 8-track,

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By Robert Fox This is so funky that watching it nearly makes me pass out.  A very different twist on a classic tune, from a German television show in 1973.  It doesn't get much groovier than this. Gotta love Deniece Williams leading the backing vocals:

Afrofunk Forumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02034294205883631157noreply@blogger.com0http://afrofunkforum.blogspot.com/2012/02/stevie-wonder-signed-sealed-delivered.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22063125.post-1334058840658817422011-04-01T16:55:00.034-05:002012-02-26T20:23:58.489-05:00

One of the most exciting world music events of the year will be in Miami on April 16th: the 13th Annual Afro Roots World Music Festival. The festival will feature the Haitian Rara & Caribbean sounds of Boukman Eksperyans; Locos Por Juana with Special Guest Rocky Dawuni; The Spam Allstars with Special Guest Papa Malick Faye; and Jahfe plus DJ Moses and live painting by Lebo. That's a

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Legendary South African choir Ladysmith Black Mambazo comes to Washington, DC's Lisner Auditorium on Thursday, March 10th. Ladysmith Black Mambazo create a joy-infused environment everywhere they sing the complex and harmonious songs developing out of the South African Isicathamiya tradition. The Grammy-Winning all-male choir, launched to international fame by Paul Simon's Graceland, has

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by David McDavitt Surfacing mysteriously after over 30 years, the video footage of Fela and African 70’s set at the Berlin Jazz Festival (Berliner Jazztage) in 1978 is a true gift to lovers of Fela and Afrobeat, marking the best quality video/audio and musical performance of Fela to date. Seek it on Youtube if you must, but true fans will want to obtain a DVD copy to witness this event in its

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By Victor Crisen “I am the ambassador for Timbuktu” reveals Khaira Arby on an NPR interview. A relative star by her teenage years, Khaira Arby is a modern force for the bestowment of Malian traditional music with a modern sensibility. Inspired and mentored by her cousin Ali Farka Toure, whom Khaira sang with in her twenties, Khaira is advancing the reach of Malian music, as well as evolving

Victor Crisenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652059156533072061noreply@blogger.com0http://afrofunkforum.blogspot.com/2011/01/nightingale-of-malis-north.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22063125.post-41941161697164411282010-12-30T22:17:00.003-05:002010-12-30T22:25:36.437-05:00

For those unfortunate souls who missed the run of “FELA! The Musical” on or off broadway, we have wonderful news: The London run of “FELA! The Musical” will broadcast via theaters , late January, 2011.“NT Live performances are filmed at the National Theatre in high definition and broadcast via satellite to 300 cinemas and performing arts centres in 22 countries, live in Europe and some US cities,

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FELA on Broadway no get enemy. In fact it has the enthusiastic support of the popular masses, and now official recognition from the Tony Awards. Best Choreography: Bill T. Jones Best Costume Design: Marina Draghici Best Sound Design: Robert Kaplowitz Everybody say, "Yeah Yeah!"

David McDavitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11082429044304473661noreply@blogger.com1http://afrofunkforum.blogspot.com/2010/06/fela-on-broadway-wins-3-tony-awards.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22063125.post-66944031985598433762010-05-24T13:55:00.003-05:002012-02-26T17:41:31.590-05:00

By David McDavitt The ultimate Fela tribute band (a.k.a. “FELA!” on Broadway) will release a CD June 8, 2010. Performed by members of Antibalas afrobeat band, with Sierra Leone’s Sahr Ngaujah on lead vocals this album is sure to be an afrobeat classic. Broadwayworld.com rates the forthcoming original cast recording of the afrobeat musical 9.5 out of 10 stars. Produced by Rob Sher (Follies

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Great show tonight at Jammin Java outside of Washington, DC in Vienna, VA: Chopteeth and Funk Ark. If you're in the area, hope you can make it!

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By Marc Bruner Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni Ba is a fantastic band that you need to hear now. Bassekou Kouyate is a master of the ngoni, a small, traditional plucked lute with a big place in Malian history and a rich, deep sound. Bassekou is also the master bandleader of Ngoni Ba, an insanely talented group of four ngoni players (including Bassekou and two of his brothers), each with an ngoni

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By David McDavitt Whoever thought theater would be the savior of Afrobeat music? 100-plus afrobeat bands have been pounding away in relative obscurity for the last 15 years or so, delighting only the privileged few with the secret knowledge of Baba Kuti’s unique groove. Then along comes the powerful Broadway play, “Fela!” attracting an impressive pop following and critical acclaim,

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The Afrobeat Renaissance continues to flourish in the US. A new 13 piece afrobeat band based out of Brooklyn called Zongo Junction is hosting a monthly party called "Afro Funky" dedicated to afrobeat, funk and soul. The parties started in July at Public Assembly but are moving to a new venue. The nights are expected to grow as time goes on. The next show is in Williamsburg (at the

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This should be a fabulous show in one of the best clubs in the country for Afrobeat! Akoya Afrobeat with The Revelations (featuring Tre Williams) Southpaw 125 5th Avenue (between Sterling & St. John's) Brooklyn, NY 11238 Door 9 PM, Show 9:30 $10 Advance tickets

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Great show in Washington, DC this Saturday, January 9th: Chopteeth Afrofunk Big Band with DJ Jahsonic! The Rock & Roll Hotel 1353 H St NE Washington, DC (202) 388-ROCK $15—doors open at 8:30PM All ages Advance tickets

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By Robert Fox World Circuit Records has announced the release of a posthumous recording by guitar legend Ali Farka Toure, teaming up with kora master Toumani Diabate. Titled "Ali and Toumani," it's due out in February 2010. The CD will be a follow up to their first collaboration, the 2005 Grammy Award-winning "In the Heart of the Moon." Issued just before Farka Toure's passing in 2006,

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By Marc Bruner Here's some of my favorite world music releases for the year: Orchestra Poly Rythmo de Contonou, Analog Africa No. 6, Echos Hypnotiques. More great vintage stuff from the people at Analog Africa. This is fantastic funky music. Legends of Benin, Analog Africa No. 5. Yet more awesome funky vintage shit. Let's hope they keep digging this stuff up for us. Daby

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By Robert Fox On television once, I saw some amazing interviews where people describe seeing Louis Armstrong's band in the 1920s. Early in Armstrong's career, the band traveled by paddle boat up the Mississippi River from New Orleans, stopping in every town along the way to play in the boat's ballroom. In the interviews, various witnesses recall the overwhelming power, volume and rhythmic

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This is going to be a fantastic show! On Saturday, November 28th, Chopteeth returns to the Black Cat in Washington, DC for a dynamic evening of African dance music. You can count on Chopteeth for explosive 1970s West African big band classics as well as critically-acclaimed original music inspired by afrobeat, highlife and African rhumba. Big horns, raging guitars and driving rhythms—there

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By Robert Fox U-Roy has been a major presence in my sonic landscape over the last few months. The godfather of toasting and hip-hop pioneer, he created some of the most memorable tracks in the history of reggae. Collaborating with an incredible list of musicians over the years, U-Roy virtually invented a whole new genre of music. It's still as fresh today as ever. Once these songs get into

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By Robert Fox Great review of Bill T. Jones's Broadway musical "Fela!" in today's New York Times. I know that's an unexpected combination of words in a single sentence. However the critically-acclaimed show features serious music performed and arranged by key members of Brooklyn's Antibalas, and it provides a new platform to expand Fela's message and tell his story. This week the show

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By Robert Fox I've spent much of the last few months listening to Vieux Farka Toure's 2009 album Fondo nearly every day. It's one of my favorite recordings in years, featuring an innovative mix of traditional Malian rhythms, an up-to-date sound, great supporting musicians, and (of course) blistering, very special guitar playing. I really like this recording. Vieux makes waves now wherever he

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