December 5, 2009Paris' Legendary New Morning Welcomes The Bethany And Rufus Roots Quartet
Email: bethanyrufus@musicdish.net New World/Folk/Roots group The Bethany and Rufus Roots Quartet will be performing songs from their live 12 track CD "Live À Fip" on December 8th at Paris' most reputable jazz-club, the New Morning. The quartet was invited to perform live on Radio France's Live À Fip radio series following a promotional radio spot for the Les Nuits Atypique festival. The Roots Quartet includes the duo Bethany and Rufus (Bethany Yarrow and Rufus Cappadocia), along with Fulani flutist Yacouba "Denke Denke" and Afro Haitian drummer 'Bonga' Jean-Baptiste. Bethany And Rufus Roots Quartet The Bethany & Rufus Roots Quartet's Live À Fip CD's strength lies not just in each artist's singular talents, but in their capacity to combine their abilities in a way that complements each member of the group to bring about a sound that is unique and groundbreaking, while incorporating concerns about global injustices, violence, and inequalities. Live À Fip is the product of a world where people and societies are interconnected, converging, and in turmoil. "A diabolically funky bass is joined by the song of a fulani flute and the cadence of a voodoo drum, and the cello bows under an incantation of the ancestors... a revelation of Les Nuits Atypiques Festival of Langon and the love at first listen of studio 105 of Radio France, the folk duo Bethany & Rufus have transformed themselves into a post-modern quartet for an evening of spellbinding music." - MONDOMIX About Bethany And Rufus Roots Quartet http://www.bethanyandrufus.com/ To request mp3 tracks for review as well as interview requests, contact:
Posted by musicdish on 12/05/2009 10:32 AM Comments (0)
December 4, 2009WINTER 2010 CHICAGO BLUES TOURâ„¢ 8 Clubs 10 Bands Jan. 16
Email: mediarelations@chicagobluestour.com Blues University® and the City of Chicago invite music fans to celebrate the vitality of the blues, from Chicago and beyond, on Saturday, January 16th. Join the Chicago Blues Tour™, a "pub crawl" event, connecting 8 of Chicago's famous lounges featuring live blues as it departs from the "hub" of the tour, Lizzie McNeill's, at 400 N. McClurg Ct. Tickets ($45) include all transportation and admission charges for a nightlong blues adventure, with 12 live blues bands performing all night long. Buses depart from Lizzie's every ten to twenty minutes from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m., and then begin shuttling between clubs until 2:00 a.m. Tickets are available through the Chicago Blues Tour website, www.chicagobluestour.com, or by phone via Ticketweb at 866.468.3401. A limited supply of tickets may be available at the door, but advance tickets are strongly recommended, as the tour often sells out. For further information, visit the website or call the toll-free BluesLine at 866-LIVEBLUES (866-548-3258). Maps, schedules, and an FAQ are also updated frequently at the website. The Tour continues its tradition of featuring emerging blues artists and the dynamic evolution of blues, with "young gun" guitarists Travis Feaster, Noah Wotherspoon, and Samantha Fish, who write original songs that push the idiom in new directions, from Feaster's blues-rock twist on Southern Soul, to Wotherspoon's psychedelic-glam spin on Delta rhythms and narrative. Rising guitar stars like "Chicago Blues Challenge" finalists Chainsaw Dupont and Toronzo Cannon, as well as favorites of Chicago's soul-blues underground, Super Percy and Fantastic L-Roy, and even Chicago veterans like Killer Ray Allison and Vance Kelly, infuse their blues with inventive hybrids of jazz, rock, soul, funk, and even hip-hop elements. The Tour emphasizes off-the-beaten-path, classic lounges on Chicago's south and west side blues circuits, with audiences drawn from the neighborhood, who favor entertaining variety over purity of tradition. The Chicago BluesTour™, now entering its 20th anniversary year, is part of a slate of "Chicago Blues Weekend" events (www.bluesweekend.com) that are anchored by Buddy Guy's legendary annual stand at Legends. The events also include weekend "Blues Shuttles" to clubs featuring West Side Soul, South Side guitarists, Blues Women, and Chicago's famed "Blues Alley" on the North Side, as well as a visit from a traveling showcase, the Kansas City Blues Caravan, at Rosa's. Blues University® sponsors classes and events that expand the understanding and audience for blues music. The Chicago Blues Tour™, which showcases the wide variety of modern blues talent on display in Chicago, began in 1990 as the West Side Blues Tour and has expanded in scope to include live blues venues throughout Chicago, and has helped promote blues with assistance from the Mayor's Office of Special Events since 1998. Blues U.® maintains an online archive of blues information and also launched a blues news service, BluesWire, in 2008. Winter 2010 Chicago Blues Tour™ LIZZIE MC NEILL'S, 400 N. McCLURG, 312- 467-1992 TASTE ENTERTAINMENT CENTER 6331 S. LOWE, 773-873-6700 CHECKERBOARD LOUNGE 5201 S. HARPER, 773-684-1472 VANCE KELLY & THE BACKSTREET BLUES BAND LEE'S UNLEADED BLUES 7401 S. SOUTH CHICAGO, 773-493-3477 LINDA'S PLACE 1044 W. 51ST ST., 773-373-2351 FANTASTIC L-ROY & THE BULLETPROOF BAND THE WATER HOLE, 1400 S. WESTERN AVE., 312-243-7988 FOR THE GOOD TIMES LOUNGE, 5545 S. DAMEN AVE., 773-310-0398 (8:00 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.) ROSA'S LOUNGE, 3420 ARMITAGE AVE., 773-342-0452 ---------------------- CHICAGO BLUES WEEKEND SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: (full details: www.chicagobluesweekend.com) Friday, Jan. 15 Buddy Guy appears at Legends Blues Shuttle: BLUES WOMEN, GUITAR, & HARMONICA: • Kansas City Blues Caravan at Rosa's Lounge Saturday, Jan. 16 "REAL GUITAR HEROES" CD AUTOGRAPHING SESSION Vance Kelly, Toronzo Cannon, Noah Wotherspoon, Travis Feaster, Samantha Fish, Chainsaw Dupont, Killer Ray Allison, Lewis Cowdrey Chicago Blues Tour: 8 CLUBS, 12 BANDS pub crawl Sunday, Jan. 17 Gospel Brunch House of Blues, 329 N Dearborn St. Buddy Guy appears at Legends Blues Shuttle: SOUTH SIDE GUITAR / WEST SIDE SOUL Congress Hotel Tap, 520 S. Michigan Blues Shuttle: BLUES WOMEN & GUITAR - NORTH SIDE Congress Hotel Tap, 520 S. Michigan
Posted by musicdish on 12/04/2009 10:04 AM Comments (0)
November 11, 2009Bethany and Rufus Roots Quartet - Iraq
The wait is over! Bethany and Rufus Roots Quartet's new CD "Live A Fip" - released in Europe - is a master collaboration between the group Bethany and Rufus (Bethany Yarrow and Rufus Cappadocia), Haitian Percussionist 'Bonga' Jean-Baptiste, and singer/flautist Yacouba Moumouni. The CD gets its name from the "Live A Fip" radio series, where they were invited to perform while doing a promotional spot for Radio France. The song "Iraq" is one that will touch your emotions, arouse your senses, and open your heart and mind to an experience beyond measure. Cappadocia's cello sings out, cries out, imploring you to listen. It is a very powerful track indeed, conveying the sorrow and plight of an impoverished, enraged land. The erratic, aggressive cello playing over soft acoustic guitar, gets the song's point across without uttering a single word. Iraq by Bethany & Rufus Roots Quartet "The level of musical brilliance reached by Rufus Cappadocia in "Iraq" left me speechless. His cello becomes reminiscent of mournful sorrow and wailing cry that extracts emotion like nothing else. This instrumental piece highlights both music and musician at their best..." Get Live A Fip: http://musique.fnac.com/a2741804/Bethany-Live-a-FIP-CD-album?SID=f961d11b-3168-38a4-c0f4-fe00907c12eb&UID=02B69E01C-E21B-2899-083D-BDF9B2BA74EA&Origin=RADIOFRANCE&OrderInSession=1&TTL=260420102002&PID=2
Posted by musicdish on 11/11/2009 9:40 AM Comments (0)
November 7, 2009Bethany And Rufus Roots Quartet To Perform At New York's Joe's Pub
New World/Folk/Roots group The Bethany and Rufus Roots Quartet will be performing songs from their live 12 track CD "Live A Fip" at the New York's Joe's Pub at The Public Theater, one of New York City's most celebrated and in-demand showcase venues for live music and performance. The Roots Quartet includes the duo Bethany and Rufus (Bethany Yarrow and Rufus Cappadocia), along with Fulani flutist Yacouba "Denke Denke" and Afro Haitian drummer 'Bonga' Jean-Baptiste. "Live A Fip" was released in Europe on October 22nd as a co- production with Radio France and Daqui Records. Bethany And Rufus Roots Quartet @ Joe's Pub One reviewer describes "Live A Fip," as "like nothing you've ever heard before. Styles from everywhere and anywhere come together seamlessly. One hears distinctly Afro-Cuban rhythms pop under driving bass lines, folksy lyrics and screaming flute. "Death Don't Have No Mercy" is particularly characteristic of this mixing and meshing. The cello is inescapably funky, the bongos complexify the rhythms, the flute line seethes with fiery reverberance, and Bethany's vocals lament the world in a way that only American folk music can." Bethany as the daughter of legendary 60's Folk singer Peter Yarrow (Peter , Paul & Mary) draws from the many songs that her father collected as part of the seminal folk movement of the 60s. Yacouba has dug deeply into the folkloric Hausa, Djerma, Peul and Songhai traditions of Niger and Bonga is the descendant of a very rich lineage of Vodou ceremonial drumming and song. Bonga has also traveled extensively through Haiti collecting and learning the different manifestations of Haitian song and folklore. Rufus has taken the cello into previously unknown realms and is noted for his collaborations in African, Arabic, and American music forms and also has a solo CD Songs for Cello on the Daqui label. Individually all of the members of the group have been instrumental in expanding the role of traditional forms in their respective musics. It is with this background that they have come together to create a sound that although based around the song forms of American traditional music reaches back to a common root that has inspired everyone involved. http://bethanyandrufus.musicdish.net To request mp3 tracks for review as well as interview requests, contact:
Posted by musicdish on 11/07/2009 1:06 PM Comments (0)
October 29, 2009Rufus Cappadocia And Special Guests To Perform At The Jalopy On October 31st
Url: http://www.jalopy.biz/ Celloist extraordinaire Rufus Cappadocia will perform at the Jalopy on Saturday, October 31st at 8:30 p.m. along with special guests Gaida Hinawi (Voice Syria) & Yacouba Denke Denke (Fulani Flute & Vocals Niger). There is a $15 cover charge for the show. Rufus Cappadocia and guests Gaida Hinawi & Yacouba Denke Denke @ Jalopy Rufus Cappadocia is one of the leading voices on the cello today. From the modalities of Middle Eastern, West African and pan-European folk forms to blues, rock and jazz along the way, adding elements American roots, Mediterranean textures, and Caribbean percussion for good measure, Cappadocia's effortless and natural embrace of all music is awe-inspiring. Rufus will be playing his new 5 string cello and quartertone baritone guitar. http://www.rufusmusic.com/ To request mp3 tracks for review as well as interview requests, contact:
Posted by musicdish on 10/29/2009 1:06 PM Comments (0)
October 27, 2009Bethany And Rufus Roots Quartet To Perform At Barbes October 30th
Url: http://www.barbesbrooklyn.com/calendar.html New World/Folk/Roots group The Bethany and Rufus Roots Quartet will be performing at Barbes in Brooklyn, New York on Friday, October 30, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. The Roots Quartet includes the duo Bethany and Rufus (Bethany Yarrow and Rufus Cappadocia), along with Fulani flutist Yacouba "Denke Denke" and Afro Haitian drummer 'Bonga' Jean-Baptiste. The foursome will be performing tracks from their live 12 track CD "Live A Fip" released in Europe on October 22nd as a co- production with Radio France and Daqui Records. Bethany And Rufus Roots Quartet @ Barbes One reviewer describes "Live A Fip," as "like nothing you've ever heard before. Styles from everywhere and anywhere come together seamlessly. One hears distinctly Afro-Cuban rhythms pop under driving bass lines, folksy lyrics and screaming flute. "Death Don't Have No Mercy" is particularly characteristic of this mixing and meshing. The cello is inescapably funky, the bongos complexify the rhythms, the flute line seethes with fiery reverberance, and Bethany's vocals lament the world in a way that only American folk music can." Bethany as the daughter of legendary 60's Folk singer Peter Yarrow (Peter, Paul & Mary) draws from the many songs that her father collected as part of the seminal folk movement of the 60s. Yacouba has dug deeply into the folkloric Hausa, Djerma, Peul and Songhai traditions of Niger and Bonga is the descendant of a very rich lineage of Vodou ceremonial drumming and song. Bonga has also traveled extensively through Haiti collecting and learning the different manifestations of Haitian song and folklore. Rufus has taken the cello into previously unknown realms and is noted for his collaborations in African, Arabic, and American music forms and also has a solo CD Songs for Cello on the Daqui label. Individually all of the members of the group have been instrumental in expanding the role of traditional forms in their respective musics. It is with this background that they have come together to create a sound that although based around the song forms of American traditional music reaches back to a common root that has inspired everyone involved. http://bethanyandrufus.musicdish.net To request mp3 tracks for review as well as interview requests, contact:
Posted by musicdish on 10/27/2009 9:27 AM Comments (0)
October 24, 2009Bethany & Rufus Roots Quartet "Live A Fip" CD Debuts October 22, 2009 In Europe
Url: http://sites.radiofrance.fr/chaines/fip/disques/flive.php?disk_id=165000034 New World/Folk/Roots duo Bethany & Rufus along with Fulani flutist Yacouba Moumouni and Afro Haitian drummer 'Bonga' Jean-Baptiste will release a new CD, entitled "Live A Fip" on October 22, 2009. The Bethany & Rufus Roots Quartet "Live A Fip" CD features 12 tracks, and will debut in Europe on the Daqui Records label. The "Live A Fip" CD release was a natural extension of Bethany & Rufus' collaborations with Jean-Baptiste and Moumouni. Bethany & Rufus, who share the same label with Moumouni, also shared the stage with him for one song during the 10th anniversary celebration of Daqui Records. They knew instantly that their political beliefs and musical chemistry would bond them together, catapulting them forward with continued performances. The trio became a quartet when 'Bonga' Jean-Baptiste was invited to perform with them the following summer at Les Nuits Atypique. During a promotional radio spot for the festival on Radio France in March 2009, the quartet was asked to perform live on the Live A Fip radio series, and the rest is history. The Bethany & Rufus Roots Quartet's Live A Fip CD's strength lies not just in each artist's singular talents, but in their capacity to combine their abilities in a way that complements each member of the group to bring about a sound that is unique and groundbreaking, while incorporating concerns about global injustices, violence, and inequalities. Live A Fip is the product of a world where people and societies are interconnected, converging, and in turmoil. One reviewer describes "Live A Fip," as "like nothing you've ever heard before. Styles from everywhere and anywhere come together seamlessly. One hears distinctly Afro-Cuban rhythms pop under driving bass lines, folksy lyrics and screaming flute. "Death Don't Have No Mercy" is particularly characteristic of this mixing and meshing. The cello is inescapably funky, the bongos complexify the rhythms, the flute line seethes with fiery reverberance, and Bethany's vocals lament the world in a way that only American folk music can." Bethany Yarrow's voice has a deep resonance, a profound yearning that blends perfectly with the earthy sound of her band. Perhaps her voice sounds so good in this group because all of the instruments have a distinctly vocal quality about them. Yacouba Moumouni's flute imparts an especially human sound, a personification of woody vibrations that conjure images of life in its rawest form. 'Bonga' Jean-Baptiste's rhythms are complex and gel with Rufus Cappadocia's funky bass lines. Cappadocia's sound is also unique. His five string cello sound is rich in overtones that compound the earthiness of the group, and Yacouba's chants send shivers through your spine. The whole album feels alive and growing. These are the sounds of life piercing a dry and crusted earth, its roots twisting and crawling, crackling and snapping. This music transcends the genres in which it finds its origins. It's not roots music, or blues, or funk, or jazz. While it contains elements of all of those styles, it is also unmistakably new and impossible to characterize in the traditional musical panacea. This pure, vibrating, swelling sound is open and honest. The Quartet is sincere and their music, all recorded live, makes you feel what they feel. This is an original and refreshing CD. Click on the following link to listen to some of the tracks from the Bethany & Rufus Roots Quartet "Live A Fip" CD: http://bethanyandrufus.musicdish.net/ About Bethany Yarrow In 2003, Bethany released her debut CD, entitled "Rock Island", to amazing (and amazed) reviews. Beautifully produced by Kevin Salem (Mercury Rev, Bad Brains, Chocolate Genius) and Knox Chandler (David Gahan, Siouxsie & the Banshees), the CD mixed the gloss of pop production with banjos, dulcimers, harmonicas, slide guitars, gospel choirs, and the sampled ghosts of some of the great blues singers in America. In totally unexpected ways, Bethany took traditional slave lullabies, prison songs, and murder ballads, and turned them into grooving electronic pop for a new generation. Bethany's brand of folk has certainly struck a chord across the country, and ears are beginning to perk up noticeably… HBO recently featured her version of "Black is the Color" in their series Cat House, and listeners have been knocked out by her "fascinating" and "dramatic" interpretations. Her voice has been called, "mesmerizing", "intense", "powerful", "spell-binding"…. "A cross between PJ Harvey and Annie Lennox… Dido and Grace Slick…" Bethany has been dubbed a "musical medium", crossing genres and time, and in re-inventing these deeply American songs, Bethany has not only taken them into the future, she has made them deeply her own. About Rufus Cappadocia About Yacouba Moumouni Mastering the traditional flute, he joined the Ballet National of Niger and then formed Mamar Kassey, an eight man group featuring Moumouni and guitarist Abdallah Alhassane. Together they have toured West Africa, Europe, and the United States, and have become the most popular musical group in Niger. In 1986 Yacouba accepted an invitation to join the traditional band Zongo. Together, they toured and performed in Korea, Libya, Algeria, and West Africa. Transferring to Orchestre Takeda, the house band at the musical academy Centre de Formation et de Promotion Musicale (CFPM), in 1990, Yacouba was mentored by the group's director and lead guitarist, Abdoulaye Alhassane. He remained with the band for five years. Together with other CFPM musicians, including Ahlassane, Yacouba formed Mamar Kassey in 1995. The band's debut album, Alatoumi, released in 1999 on the French Daqui label, was followed by Denke-Denke two years later. About 'Bonga' Jean-Baptiste Bonga is regarded as a master of the Afro Haitian drum, sought-after for his extensive repertoire of pan-African rhythms. A dynamic performer, accompanist, session player and educator, Bonga works on stage, in the recording studio, and in educational settings. He is one of the few drum experts and craftsmen outside of Haiti who continues to build traditional drums using techniques that are centuries old. As a core member of the seminal Haitian roots bands, Boukman Eksperyans and Foula, Bonga was invited to the U.S. in the '90s when musicians were becoming a strong voice for the Haitian people. Since then, Bonga has continued to play solo and in ensemble and at numerous worldwide venues. He is a featured performer with Peter Yarrow, Grace Jones, Dan Zanes and Urban Tap, to mention a few. His drums opened the NY premiere of the Rolling Stones "Voodoo Lounge" tour and he is prominently featured on recordings by Wyclef Jean and Salif Keita. Bonga's first CD, Kanzo (2000), incorporates elements of jazz, blues, and funk to create a dynamic version of mizik rasin. The recording features Lou Reed, bassist Fernando Saunders, and trumpeter Frank London. Bonga's second CD, Ayiti Afrika (2006), received critical acclaim. http://www.bethanyandrufus.com/ To request mp3 tracks for review as well as interview requests, contact:
Posted by bethanyandrufus on 10/24/2009 6:30 AM Comments (0)
October 16, 2009Bethany & Rufus Roots Quartet "Live A Fip" CD Debuts October 22, 2009 In Europe
Url: http://sites.radiofrance.fr/chaines/fip/disques/flive.php?disk_id=165000034 New World/Folk/Roots duo Bethany & Rufus along with Fulani flutist Yacouba Moumouni and Afro Haitian drummer 'Bonga' Jean-Baptiste will release a new CD, entitled "Live A Fip" on October 22, 2009. The Bethany & Rufus Roots Quartet "Live A Fip" CD features 12 tracks, and will debut in Europe on the Daqui Records label. The "Live A Fip" CD release was a natural extension of Bethany & Rufus' collaborations with Jean-Baptiste and Moumouni. Bethany & Rufus, who share the same label with Moumouni, also shared the stage with him for one song during the 10th anniversary celebration of Daqui Records. They knew instantly that their political beliefs and musical chemistry would bond them together, catapulting them forward with continued performances. The trio became a quartet when 'Bonga' Jean-Baptiste was invited to perform with them the following summer at Les Nuits Atypique. During a promotional radio spot for the festival on Radio France in March 2009, the quartet was asked to perform live on the Live A Fip radio series, and the rest is history. The Bethany & Rufus Roots Quartet's Live A Fip CD's strength lies not just in each artist's singular talents, but in their capacity to combine their abilities in a way that complements each member of the group to bring about a sound that is unique and groundbreaking, while incorporating concerns about global injustices, violence, and inequalities. Live A Fip is the product of a world where people and societies are interconnected, converging, and in turmoil. One reviewer describes "Live A Fip," as "like nothing you've ever heard before. Styles from everywhere and anywhere come together seamlessly. One hears distinctly Afro-Cuban rhythms pop under driving bass lines, folksy lyrics and screaming flute. "Death Don't Have No Mercy" is particularly characteristic of this mixing and meshing. The cello is inescapably funky, the bongos complexify the rhythms, the flute line seethes with fiery reverberance, and Bethany's vocals lament the world in a way that only American folk music can." Bethany Yarrow's voice has a deep resonance, a profound yearning that blends perfectly with the earthy sound of her band. Perhaps her voice sounds so good in this group because all of the instruments have a distinctly vocal quality about them. Yacouba Moumouni's flute imparts an especially human sound, a personification of woody vibrations that conjure images of life in its rawest form. 'Bonga' Jean-Baptiste's rhythms are complex and gel with Rufus Cappadocia's funky bass lines. Cappadocia's sound is also unique. His five string cello sound is rich in overtones that compound the earthiness of the group, and Yacouba's chants send shivers through your spine. The whole album feels alive and growing. These are the sounds of life piercing a dry and crusted earth, its roots twisting and crawling, crackling and snapping. This music transcends the genres in which it finds its origins. It's not roots music, or blues, or funk, or jazz. While it contains elements of all of those styles, it is also unmistakably new and impossible to characterize in the traditional musical panacea. This pure, vibrating, swelling sound is open and honest. The Quartet is sincere and their music, all recorded live, makes you feel what they feel. This is an original and refreshing CD. Click on the following link to listen to some of the tracks from the Bethany & Rufus Roots Quartet "Live A Fip" CD: http://bethanyandrufus.musicdish.net/ About Bethany Yarrow In 2003, Bethany released her debut CD, entitled "Rock Island", to amazing (and amazed) reviews. Beautifully produced by Kevin Salem (Mercury Rev, Bad Brains, Chocolate Genius) and Knox Chandler (David Gahan, Siouxsie & the Banshees), the CD mixed the gloss of pop production with banjos, dulcimers, harmonicas, slide guitars, gospel choirs, and the sampled ghosts of some of the great blues singers in America. In totally unexpected ways, Bethany took traditional slave lullabies, prison songs, and murder ballads, and turned them into grooving electronic pop for a new generation. Bethany's brand of folk has certainly struck a chord across the country, and ears are beginning to perk up noticeably… HBO recently featured her version of "Black is the Color" in their series Cat House, and listeners have been knocked out by her "fascinating" and "dramatic" interpretations. Her voice has been called, "mesmerizing", "intense", "powerful", "spell-binding"…. "A cross between PJ Harvey and Annie Lennox… Dido and Grace Slick…" Bethany has been dubbed a "musical medium", crossing genres and time, and in re-inventing these deeply American songs, Bethany has not only taken them into the future, she has made them deeply her own. About Rufus Cappadocia About Yacouba Moumouni Mastering the traditional flute, he joined the Ballet National of Niger and then formed Mamar Kassey, an eight man group featuring Moumouni and guitarist Abdallah Alhassane. Together they have toured West Africa, Europe, and the United States, and have become the most popular musical group in Niger. In 1986 Yacouba accepted an invitation to join the traditional band Zongo. Together, they toured and performed in Korea, Libya, Algeria, and West Africa. Transferring to Orchestre Takeda, the house band at the musical academy Centre de Formation et de Promotion Musicale (CFPM), in 1990, Yacouba was mentored by the group's director and lead guitarist, Abdoulaye Alhassane. He remained with the band for five years. Together with other CFPM musicians, including Ahlassane, Yacouba formed Mamar Kassey in 1995. The band's debut album, Alatoumi, released in 1999 on the French Daqui label, was followed by Denke-Denke two years later. About 'Bonga' Jean-Baptiste Bonga is regarded as a master of the Afro Haitian drum, sought-after for his extensive repertoire of pan-African rhythms. A dynamic performer, accompanist, session player and educator, Bonga works on stage, in the recording studio, and in educational settings. He is one of the few drum experts and craftsmen outside of Haiti who continues to build traditional drums using techniques that are centuries old. As a core member of the seminal Haitian roots bands, Boukman Eksperyans and Foula, Bonga was invited to the U.S. in the '90s when musicians were becoming a strong voice for the Haitian people. Since then, Bonga has continued to play solo and in ensemble and at numerous worldwide venues. He is a featured performer with Peter Yarrow, Grace Jones, Dan Zanes and Urban Tap, to mention a few. His drums opened the NY premiere of the Rolling Stones "Voodoo Lounge" tour and he is prominently featured on recordings by Wyclef Jean and Salif Keita. Bonga's first CD, Kanzo (2000), incorporates elements of jazz, blues, and funk to create a dynamic version of mizik rasin. The recording features Lou Reed, bassist Fernando Saunders, and trumpeter Frank London. Bonga's second CD, Ayiti Afrika (2006), received critical acclaim. To request mp3 tracks for review as well as interview requests, contact:
Posted by musicdish on 10/16/2009 9:07 AM Comments (0)
September 18, 2009Get a FREE Mp3 from "Pearl River"
Mike Zito's new CD, "Pearl River," will be released this Tuesday, September 22nd! In anticipation of the new album, we've made one of the tracks, "Dirty Blonde," available for free download!
Posted by mikezito on 09/18/2009 3:45 PM Comments (0)
August 22, 2009Pete Kelly says
Posted by los skeletone blues on 08/22/2009 5:42 AM Comments (0)
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