RSS feedArchive for November, 2009
Garifuna star Aurelio Martinez has his UK debut at Union Chapel on December 4
Posted on November 16th, 2009 in World Music by Songlines.
Aurelio Martinez – one of the most gifted Garifuna musicians of his generation – makes his UK debut on December 4 at London’s Union Chapel as part of the celebrations of the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative in London in December – a global programme that brings talented young artists together with renowned figures in all fields of the arts for a year of individual guidance. In 2008, Senegalese star Youssou N’Dour invited Martinez to join the initiative.
The Garifuna people live in the Caribbean coastal regions of central America, and are descendants of Africans who were transported across the Atlantic in the slave trade, but who escaped to live free on the island of St Vincent, before being shipped to Roatán Island just off the Honduran coast by the British in the late 18th century after clashes with the British in St Vincent.
Garifuna music retains distinct African rhythms that have become blended with Latin, Amerindian and modern musical styles. Martinez was an original member of the Garifuna All Star Band and played with the late Andy Palacio. Today, he is one of the foremost artists of the unique Garifuna culture of central America. His UK debut show will be introduced by world music DJ Charlie Gillett.
Union Chapel, Compton Avenue, London N1 2XD
Tickets £7.50 + bkg fee from Barbican Box Office 020 7638 8891
Nitin Sawhney and Akram Khan to curate festival at Sadlers Wells in London
Posted on November 12th, 2009 in World Music by Songlines.
Multi-instrumental maestro and prolific composer Nitin Sawhney and dance-choreographer Akram Khan are the curators of Svapnagata – a two-week festival of Indian music and dance at London’s Sadler’s Wells.
Svapnagata – which means ‘dreaming’ in Sanskrit – will feature everything from mandolin playing of the southern Indian Carnatic tradition by U Shrinivas on November 18 to Indian dance with Shantala Shivalingappa on November 23 and a performance of the play Nagamandala on November 20. Other performers include Ravi Shankar’s sitar heiress Anoushka Shankar and dancer Aakash Odedra.
The festival runs from November 16-28.
http://www.sadlerswells.com/show/Svapnagata
