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| Putumayo World Music releases another gem The magical African music collaboration 'Acoustic Africa', launched on CD by Putumayo World Music in 2006 before embarking on a mammoth 40-city US and European tour, reaches African shores for their début Southern African tour. Acoustic Africa features Malian superstar Habib Koite whose transcendent voice and guitar has captivated audiences globally with South Africa's powerhouse singer-songwriter guitarist Vusi 'The Voice' Mahlasela and Dobet Gnahore from Ivory Coast whose thrilling vocals and stage charisma has catapulted her to stardom. The 6-piece band features Aly Keita, balafon maestro - one of the greats of West Africa. The tour premières at Joburg's Bassline on Friday 31 July 2009 and proceeds to Bushfire Festival (Swaziland) on Sunday 2 August, Zoo Park in Windhoek (with Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre) on Wednesday 5 August, Maputo Centro Cultural Franco Mozambicano on Friday 7 August before winding up at Oppikoppi on Sunday 9 August. The Bassline show will open with the lovely melodies and gentle rhythms of Namibia's fast-rising Elemotho, while the Maputo production is built around a mini-festival of African collaborations styled EncontrARTE. The tour has been made possible by a collaboration of French cultural network in Southern Africa, coordinated by Institute Francaise Afrique du Sud (IFAS), with African Synergy and African partners throughout the region. Fall Modou Senegalese spokesman for African Synergy says of the tour: "Our vision is intra-African arts collaboration. This tour is a lovely expression of the finest African singer-songwriters from different traditions undertaking an extraordinary musical journey - the concert comes home to Africa, bringing together these wondrous musicians and audiences from many African traditions. It's a great feeling to belong". For the musicians involved in Putumayo label's Acoustic Africa recording, the project is a welcome and all-too-rare opportunity to immerse themselves in the sounds and rhythms of fellow artists from different African traditions. "Africa is a big continent and we don't know each other, " says Koite, referring to Africa's diverse cultures. "We have a lot of languages, so sometimes we use Western language to talk. For me, Acoustic Africa is a chance to meet and discover." While Acoustic Africa musicians play contemporary and traditional instruments (balafon, djembe and kamala n'goni) they have forged a highly personal sound steeped in traditional sources, but porous enough to absorb far-flung influences. A giant of West African music who hails from a long line of griots, Koite has won devoted global following with his sizzling guitar work and soulful vocals. Within Mali, his finely honed multi-ethnic band Bamada has forged ties among the country's various peoples by drawing on styles from throughout the large nation. "In the north we have many influences from Arab and Berber music mixed with black African music, and Mauritania and Morocco aren't far off, " Koite says. "In the south you have forest music, and when you go east, there are influences from Niger. We have many beautiful kinds of traditional songs and rhythms and melodies". Mamelodi-born guitarist, poet, percussionist, composer and multi-octave singer, Vusi Mahlasela - 'The Voice' - is revered as a creative force in South Africa's freedom struggles. He features in the award-winning documentary Amandla! A revolution in Four-Part Harmony. He supplied music for the Academy Award winning film Tsotsi. In United States, his collaborations with Dave Matthews Band, contributing soaring vocals, has won rave reviews. Mahlalela powerful lyrics and beautiful melodies have made him a leading figure in contemporary South African music. Dobet Gnahore, daughter of famed West African percussionist Boni Gnahore, grew up immersed in the dance and music of the Bete people. Her charismatic stage presence and striking choreography quickly attracted attention. But it is as a singer of immense presence, power and stage charisma that has won her massive acclaim. Acoustic Africa has created a Pan-African, jazz-inflected, sometimes almost 'delta-blues' Malian sound, steeped in African vocal tradition and supple rhythms. Acoustic Africa has evolved into far more than a showcase for three separate acts. The concert unfolds as an evolving collaboration. Moving smoothly from one combination to another the three artists, backed by a first-rate versatile band, sing and combine in lovely vocal harmonies cross-cutting differences of culture. "When we started, we didn't know how it's going to be, " Mahlasela says. "Everybody had to come up with songs they feel comfortable with. We built up the show together. It's not like a producer said, '… do [it] like this.' No, the artists decided. Not just me, Habib and Dobet; we did it together with our musicians … we cooked everything together". Opening for Acoustic Africa at Bassline is the Kalahari rhythms of Namibia's Elemotho a Namibian born musician who composes, records and performs his own music. Playing acoustic guitar with his 6-piece band he sings in mother-tongue Setswana, as well as English and Namibian languages. "I see myself as a performing artist and musical activist; I throw reality around, exploring the depth of the human spirit". His sound is solid and fluid, with acoustic guitar interplay, flute and super-charged yet softly stated rhythms. From rural boy to modern lyricist this Kalahari artist tries to divorce himself from commercial music by using experimental ideas. "I grew up with story telling around the fire and that has inspired me to create something that could make you dance as well as listen, smile as well as cry, find peace as well as wisdom". write your comments about the article :: © 2009 Jazz News :: home page |