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FELA! the musical brings the music of the Afro-beat legend to Broadway
Posted on September 6th, 2009 in News by Songlines.
The rebellious, passionate and musically explosive life of Fela Anikulapo Kuti has finally been turned into a hit Broadway musical – FELA! After a spell off Broadway, it is now running at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre until April 2010 as a music and dance extravaganza arranged by music producer Aaron Johnson and Brooklyn-based Afro-beat and Latin jazz orchestra Antibalas with direction and choreography by Tony Award-winner Bill T Jones.
The performances of actor Sahr Ngaujah have already garnered critical acclaim for their non-stop energy. He is on stage almost constantly – singing, dancing, playing saxophone and exuding the kind of aura that the legendary creator of Afro-beat himself did. All the elements that made up the Nigerian bandleader’s life are ripe for the musical treatment, from the creation of an entire musical sound to the political activism and the legion of sexy dancer-wives that accompanied him. Let’s hope FELA! the musical is soon to hit the West End.
October 2009 issue of Songlines (#63) is on sale in the UK from September 4
Posted on September 2nd, 2009 in Recent Posts by Songlines.
The October 2009 issue of Songlines is on sale in the UK from September 4 and includes our regular Top of the World CD with ten tracks from the finest new releases from around the planet.
The Top of the World CD includes tracks from Mali’s Bassekou Kouyaté & Ngoni ba; English guitar virtuoso Martin Simpson; Iran’s Dastan Ensemble with Homayoun Shajarian; Indian slide guitarist Debashish Bhattacharya; and US zydeco from Cedric Watson. There’s also a selection of five tracks selected by author Philip Pullman.
The main editorial features include:
• Hugh Masekela – A portrait of South Africa’s charismatic trumpeter and musical statesman at 70.
• Titi Robin – The French multi-instrumentalist discusses mythical deities, musical collaborations and an exotic mix of influences.
• Debashish Bhattacharya – Catching up with the composer and performer who crafts his own slide guitars.
• Bamboo – We collect all manner of instruments made out of bamboo: from Laos to Madagascar.
• Essential Guide to Zydeco – A potted history of Louisiana’s popular, accordion-led party music.
• Sounding Out Wellington – all the best places to see and hear music in the New Zealand capital.
• Beginner’s Guide to the Indian playback legend, Lata Mangeshkar.
• Postcard from Bali.
• Selam African Music Festival.
• Backpage from Guinea Bissau.
• My World – the author of Philip Pullman.
• Grooves – Tony Engle, Andy Gangadeen and Lisa Knapp share their favourites.
• News, including a report on Folk Against Fascism.
• Reviews of the latest CD, DVD and World Cinema releases.
Author Philip Pullman playlist and the 10 best new releases in the October 2009 issue of Songlines (#63)
Posted on September 2nd, 2009 in Recent Posts by Songlines.
The October 2009 issue of Songlines – on sale September 4 – features a free covermount CD packed full of the best new sounds from around the world, plus 5 tracks selected by the author Philip Pullman.
The covermount CD includes tracks from Mali’s Bassekou Kouyaté & Ngoni ba; English guitar virtuoso Martin Simpson; Iran’s Dastan Ensemble with Homayoun Shajarian; Indian slide guitarist Debashish Bhattacharya; and US zydeco from Cedric Watson.
Pick up your copy here on the website, at selected WHSmith’s and at all good record retailers. Feast your ears on these all-new tracks:
* Bassekou Kouyaté & Ngoni ba ‘I Speak Fula’ on Out Here Records
* Söndörgo & Ferus Mustafov ‘Kisacko Kolo’ on Sondisc
* Martin Simpson ‘The Wind & The Rain’ on Topic Records
* Cedric Watson ‘Cedric Zydeco’ on Valcour Records
* Kélétigui et ses Tambourinis ‘Famadenké’ on Sterns Music
* Groanbox Boys ‘Shards of the Journey (Talisman)’ on Groanbox Records
* Debashish Bhattacharya ‘Samarpan’ on Riverboat Records
* Jackie Oates ‘Isle of France’ on Unearthed/One Little Indian
* The Very Best ‘Kamphopo’ on Moshi Moshi Records
* Dastan Ensemble feat. Homayoun Shajarian ‘Chin-e Zolf (Curl of Tresses)’ on Celestial Harmonies
Plus Philip Pullman’s playlist:
* Tarika ‘Taraina’ on Xenophile
* Papa Noel ‘Kin Havane’ on Tumi Music
* Christine Pluhar & L’Arpeggiata ‘Ohimè Ch’io Cado’ on Virgin Classics
* Franco & Le Tout Puissant OK Jazz ‘Bolingo Ya Bougie’ on Sterns Music
* Youssou N’Dour ‘Il N’y A Pas d’Amour Heureux’ on Nonesuch Records
The October 2009 Songlines podcast is now available through iTunes
Posted on September 2nd, 2009 in Recent Posts by Songlines.
This podcast includes highlights from the October issue of Songlines (#63) opening with an excerpt from Hugh Masekela’s recent album Phola (Times Square Records). Songlines editor in chief, Simon Broughton, plays an extract from the new album by Debashish Bhattacharya (World Music Network).
Features include: Robin Denselow on South African musician Hugh Masekela, our cover star for this issue; Jeff Kaliss with his Songlines Guide to zydeco and Tim Cumming interviews French guitarist Titi Robin. Nathaniel Handy brings you the latest news with the Official UK World Music Album Chart, as well as music from Fanfare Ciocarlia and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. The podcast ends with a track by Indian singer Lata Mangeshkar, as part of the Beginner’s Guide feature this issue.
The next Songlines podcast, featuring highlights from the November/December issue (#64), will be available from October 16 2009.
