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Fatoumata Diawara headlines at the Jazz Café
Posted on October 20th, 2011 in Songlines Blog by Songlines Intern.
Mali’s rising star, Fatoumata Diawara, played her first London headline gig last week. Her debut album Fatou has caused quite a stir in recent months, with many lauding her freshness in a saturated market. Perhaps most striking is her ability to play the guitar, an unusual trait among female Malian singers, but one which indicates her modernity while she simultaneously draws on traditional Wassoulou roots.
It was a concert of two halves; the split defined by the presence – or lack – of Fatou’s guitar. Adorned in vivid reds and yellows, she stood poised and elegant behind her instrument and gently strummed as she sang. Despite her rich voice, the static position felt uncomfortable and I reluctantly found myself becoming restless. It wasn’t until half way through the set that things got going. The guitar disappeared and off came the pink-laced trainers. Her muscular body pulsed rhythmically and hair braids flew as she demonstrated her strength and agility as a dancer.
Back at the microphone, Fatou was visibly relaxed and her voice sounded more natural as she began to engage with the crowd and her band. The laid-back style of the album was replaced by up-beat funk-led grooves in the live setting. Only slightly disconcerting was her almost constant smile, at once charming and out of place as she sang of illegal immigration (‘Clandestin’), orphaned children (‘Sowa’) and genital mutilation (‘Boloko’). Although she has yet to demonstrate the strength and depth of her mentor and inspiration, Oumou Sangaré, as Fatou came into her own on Thursday evening she demonstrated that she can transcend her album’s smooth production and put on a damn good show.
Olivia Haughton
Daara J Family are refused entry to the UK for Jazz Café gig
Posted on May 23rd, 2010 in World Music by Songlines.
Senegalese hip-hop outfit and Radio 3 Awards for World Music winners Daara J Family were due to play the Jazz Café in London on May 25.
They have instead become the latest act from outside the West to be denied visas to the UK. They were advised to go to the Gambia to apply for visas, where it took the British embassy three days to finally refuse their visas.
This is despite the fact that they have previous come to the UK to play at WOMAD and Glastonbury festivals in 2004, have a new album School of Life out on Wrasse Records, and had an interview arranged on BBC Radio 4’s Midweek.
Songlines 10th anniversary concert series kicks off at the Jazz Café in London
Posted on February 20th, 2009 in World Music by Songlines.
Songlines is celebrating its 10th anniversary with an exclusive series of concerts at London’s Jazz Café from March to May this year.
What better way to celebrate ten years of discovering a world of music than to see some of the finest talents from around the world performing live in Songlines’ hometown of London? A new monthly Sunday session at the Jazz Café – L’Afrik, C’est Chic! [March 15, April 26, May 24] – will include guest musicians alongside the Malian blues duo Amadou & Mariam, who are setting off to the US this summer to tour with Coldplay in their latest brush with the mainstream since their breakthrough Manu Chao-produced success Dimanche à Bamako in 2005.
On March 18, Mauritanian guitarist Daby Touré joins Little Axe guitarist Skip McDonald on a bluesy session. On April 15, Indian percussionist Trilok Gurtu will grace the stage, followed four days later by young Sephardic singer Mor Karbasi. The Top of the World collaboration between Justin Adams and Gambian ritti (one-stringed fiddle) player Juldeh Camara on May 13 will be followed on May 23 by fellow West African Vieux Farka Touré’s new Malian sound.
The concert series reaches a full-blooded Afro-beat crescendo on May 25 & 26 when Fela Kuti’s son Seun will take the stage with Fela’s Egypt 80.
Book tickets for the Songlines 10th anniversary concert series online at www.jazzcafe.co.uk or call 0870 060 3777
