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ANNOUNCING: Central Park SummerStage 2006!
May 16, 2006 City Parks Foundation of New York City today unveiled Central Park SummerStage's 21st season performance shedule. This summer's line-up touts more than 30 acts representative from each corner of the globe. Stop by the Central Park SummerStage site for the full schedule, park location, and more. Here's a sneak peek of some AFROPOP WORLDWIDE favorites: Sunday, June 18, 3:00-6:00 PM
Growing up in Algeria, Takfarinas was influenced by traditional Berber singers such as El Hasnaoui and Slimane Azem. But he also loved international artists like Jacques Brel and Stevie Wonder. After moving to France in 1979, he hit on his unique style, a blend of Kabylian folk, French pop, flamenco, reggae and funk. Friday, June 23, 7:00-10:00 PM The Refugee All Stars are a band of six Sierra Leonean musicians who formed a band in the refugee camps of Guinea after escaping the violence of their homeland. Their powerful story is captured in "The Refugee All Stars", a unique documentary which will screen following the performance. Saturday, July 1, 3:00-6:00 PM
Formed by Israeli-born, New York based musicians Tamir Muskat and Ori Kaplan, Balkan Beat Box is renowned for its circus-like live show, which typically features gypsy costumes, a roaring brass section and at least one of the musicians swinging from the rafters. Anchoring the spectacle is a delirious blend of Israeli and Egyptian dance rhythms, klezmer and Balkan marching band music, and a punkish disregard for stylistic boundaries. Ska Cubana links breezy strut of Jamaican ska to the sophisticated cadences of Cuban son and mambo. Check out their latest release ¡Ay Caramba! (Cumbancha). Sunday, July 2, 3:00-6:00 PM
Jose Gonzalez has built a career that defies all geographic and cultural boundaries. The music on his album Veneer centers on the singer’s acoustic guitar and introspective voice. Alex Cuba Band, led by the charismatic Alexis Puentes, represents the new wave of Cuban musicians moving outside the traditional confines of the classic Cuban sound. Incorporating elements of Afro Cuban musical arrangements and instrumentation, melded with pop songwriting and exquisite melodies, Alex Cuba composes, writes and sings original Latin pop/soul music with a unique Cuban approach. Check out Alex Cuba Band’s debut album Humo de Tabaco (Globe Star Recordings). Saturday, July 8, 3:00-6:00 PM
Sunday, July 16, 3:00-6:00 PM
French group Birdy Nam Nam makes music with nothing but turntables and vinyl—and while that’s not particularly unusual, few DJ crews have mastered the intense coordination and skill needed to sound like a real band. Depending on the song, each of the four turntablists handles the chores of an individual instrument—drums, bass, keyboards and melodies. Sunday, July 23, 3:00-6:00 PM
Maldita Vecindad is one of the seminal groups of the “rock en Espanol” movement. The band’s energetic live shows combine Mexican folk music with rock, rap, ska, salsa and metal for a rhythmically limber world beat sound. TIPS TO ENHANCE YOUR SUMMERSTAGE EXPERIENCE: * Arrive early to get choice viewing spots! Get to the gate 90 minutes early on weekends, 60 minutes on weekdays to covent prime positioning. * Check weather updates! Rain or shine, the show goes on! * Stop by the Afropop outreach booth to meet the Afropop team! We'll have giveaway raffles and more! * Share the joy! Pass on the schedule to friends. Stop by the Afropop Community forums to share your SummerStage Story. First published: www.summerstage.org
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Dedicated to African music and the music of the African Diaspora
Copyright © 2001-2009 World Music Productions. All rights reserved. Do not duplicate or redistribute in any form without permission. |
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While Algeria is renowned as the home of rai, the country has contributed other sounds to the world music community. One such form is yal, a hybrid based on the traditional music of Kabylia, the largely Berber region in the north of the country. The originator and chief proponent of yal is the singer and guitarist Hassen Zermani, better known as Takfarinas. 
Formed in 1998, Brooklyn’s own Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra takes as its cornerstone the hypnotic Afrobeat of the late Fela Kuti. On stage, Antibalas (“Anti-bullets”) generates a relentless groove from the very first note, and the lyrics (sung in English, Spanish or Yoruba) outline a strong political message. 
Seu Jorge’s introduction to most North Americans came through the Bill Murray comic film "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou", in which Jorge played a guitar-totting sailor whose repertoire is limited to David Bowie tunes sung in Portuguese. In real life, the Brazilian singer/songwriter has a far greater range. His 2005 album Cru weaves compelling originals about life in the slums of Rio, all delivered in a soft croon and with spare acoustic instrumentation. 
Known universally as “The Lion of Egypt,” Hakim's return to New York has been highly anticipated! The singer has risen to international stardom performing sha’bi, the homegrown music of Egypt’s working class. His live albums capture the exciting and celebratory atmosphere of a Hakim concert—but there’s really no substitute for experiencing this master performer firsthand. 
Known throughout West Africa as “the blind couple from Mali,” Amadou & Mariam are huge stars of the world music scene. The husband-and-wife team of Amadao Bagayoko and Mariam Doumbia combine the blues, French folk music, Cuban rhythms and South Asian textures with a solid African music base for a truly international sound. 
Singer and multi-instrumentalist Daby Toure represents an almost perfect fusion of West African and Anglo-American pop music traditions. The son of Hamidou Toure (a member of legendary group Toure Kunda), Daby is blessed with a powerful, multi-octave voice that’s been compared to everyone from Baaba Maal and Salif Keita to Nick Drake and Cat Stevens. The result of all this cultural cross-pollination is a charismatic performer who should not be missed. 
Konono N°1 plays raucous Congolese Bazombo trance music on likembé, or thumb piano, supplemented by traditional percussion instruments. What really sets Konono N°1 apart is its home-made sound system, built from old car parts, megaphones and discarded amps. 
Senegalese rap trio Daara J help bring African music full circle, being equally inspired by Jamaican reggae, Cuban funk, the traditional sounds of their native land, and the latest developments in American hip-hop.