Cape Verdean singer Mayra Andrade plays two special shows at Ronnie Scott’s this month.
The front-runner of the many talents that have emerged from Cape Verde in recent years, Mayra Andrade’s multi-layered music embraces Brazilian inflections, Cuban melodies, funky basslines and flamenco guitars to create a heady mix of sounds. She performs here from her latest album “Studio 105”, out now on Sterns.
Artists from all continents are set to perform at WOMAD – The World’s Festival taking place at Charlton Park from 28th to 31st July 2011.
Africa has always made a very strong contribution to each and every WOMAD gathering and the organisers are delighted to unveil more additions to this year’s festival from the mother continent.
From Cote D’Ivoire, Alpha Blondy has ruled the African reggae roost for many years and his spiritually strong, politically edged songs continue to preach positivity. Across the continent on Africa’s east coast, there’s another reggae impulse, one that’s gently reshaping Ethiopia’s music traditions. Dub Colossus are the ones responsible, the collective that’s giving the sound of Addis Ababa a spacey, dubby re-rub.
Acton’s ninth Summer Carnival will take place on 9th July 2011 from noon until 7pm in Acton Park, Ealing, London.
Acton’s diverse communities will come together to celebrate a family festival. Those taking part in the festival include the Caribbean, African, European, Chinese and Latin American groups. The celebrations will include an array of live music, global cuisine, brightly designed costumes, craft stalls, funfair and arts events.
The original African super choir, the South African Gospel Singers, directed by Pinise Saul, maintains its position as the greatest gospel choir of them all.
Formed in 1979 to fight apartheid, the choir retains its original spirits of creating uplifting music that lifts your soul. The choir continues to draw on Xhosa, Zulu and Suthu vocal traditions while embracing township and traditional harmonies, gospel, jazz and soul to create something that is beautiful and moving in the grand style of the very best South African music. The singers’ close harmonies combined with their skin-tight band, led by guitarist Lucky Ranku create a performance that is both soulful and joyous.
The choir’s awesome vocal power and bursting exuberance create music that lifts your spirit and soothes your soul.
Six decades of tributes, stories and Impro
As part of Southbank Centre’s Festival of Britain 60th anniversary celebrations with MasterCard, the GREAT BRITISH JAZZ mini-series of four concerts is a celebration of some key moments in the evolution of jazz in the UK and the musical movers and shakers that have defined British jazz over the past six decades, since the Festival of Britain in 1951.
The series kicks off in the Purcell Room on Tuesday 19th July with Evan Parker, who emerged from the maelstrom of free jazz in the 1960s, and remains an improviser of immense resource, an inspirational figure who has made a global impact. Celebrating the continuing evolution of improvised music in Britain, Parker leads a hand-picked group with five hugely gifted musicians reflecting five decades of probing, innovative music – guitarist John Russell, violinist Phil Waschsmann and the energetic bassist John Edwards matched with flautist Neil Metcalfe and, from today's scene, trumpeter Percy Pursglove.
Today, because it’s International Women’s Day, the world seems to be paying special attention to women. It’s one of those few days in the year when women are made feel special, loved, respected, listened to.
On 9th May 2012, I went to my son’s postgraduate graduation from Imperial College at the Royal Albert Hall. The hall was packed with people who had come to celebrate their siblings’ achievements.
I sat through three hours’ speeches and
Here are the photos of Eeefy Ike.{gallery}eeefyike{/gallery}
