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| Angelique Kidjo makes Penn State debut Oct. 30 Angelique Kidjo, hailed by music lovers and critics around the planet as a great singer, songwriter and humanitarian, draws upon her West African roots to merge Afro-funk, reggae, gospel, salsa, jazz and other styles with American rock, pop and soul to fashion a sound without borders. Kidjo makes her Penn State debut in a concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, in Eisenhower Auditorium, University Park. Kidjo's striking voice, compelling stage presence and fluency in four languages have made her a leading light in world music. Her most recent release, "Djin Djin, " took home the 2008 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World Music Album. She has long collaborated with musicians from many cultures. Her Grammy-winning disc includes guests Peter Gabriel, Josh Groban, Alicia Keys, Branford Marsalis, Carlos Santana and Joss Stone. The daughter of an actress, dancer and theatrical producer, Kidjo was born in Quidah, a coastal city in Benin. Inheriting a love of performing, she made her stage debut with her mother's theatrical troupe. Inspired by the music of Jimi Hendrix, Santana, Miriam Makeba, James Brown and Aretha Franklin, Kidjo began singing professionally at age 20. The oppressive political environment of Benin prompted her in 1980 to relocate to Paris, where her international career started to blossom. She now makes her home in New York City. Kidjo, a UNICEF goodwill ambassador, devotes time to raising the profile of various social causes. Batonga, her nonprofit organization, funds education programs for young African women. Artistic Viewpoints, an informal discussion featuring a visiting artist or local expert, is offered in Eisenhower Auditorium one hour before the performance and is free for ticket holders. Artistic Viewpoints regularly fills to capacity. Seating is available on a first-arrival basis. write your comments about the article :: © 2008 Jazz News :: home page |