AfroPulse Concert Newsletter for September
Other Newsletters
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September 6 2001 AfroPulse Concert News Volume 1 Issue 8
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Contents:
August WAW report
September WAW concerts
Around town
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West African Wednesdays (WAW)
August
Najite and the Ogun Prophecy squeezed their 15-piece Afrobeat
band onto the stage at Atlas last month. The show was delayed
because of a huge crowd for the Wiltern theater that caused a
big parking problem and a line that blocked the entrance to the
Atlas. Once the music got underway at 9:30, it didn't stop
until after 1:30 in the morning! DJ Carlos Nino picked up the
beat between sets spinning some heavy African dance grooves.
The sound system has been temporarily replaced. The concert
hall speakers dwarf the stage but pumped out a very full sound
with the deep end of the Afrobeat reverberating throughout
the club. We are still in the process of upgrading to a new
permanent sound system.
One of the best things of the show was the dancing, and not
just on stage. One of Najite's big supporters who dances with
his drum cycle in Leimert Park on Sundays was getting down
while she balanced a basket on her head; another couple from
Benin took the award for best dancers of the year. They have
become regulars, so make it to the next show if you want to
pick up some dance tips!
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West African Wednesdays (WAW)
September
For September we have two Wednesdays shows. The first is on
September 12 featuring Tarika of Madagascar and the second is
on September 26 with Andre Manga & Dumazz from Cameroon. Yes,
yes, I know Madagascar is nowhere near West Africa, but it is
on a Wednesday nonetheless (and all the pre-printed blank tickets
say West African Wednesdays) so I will pretend geography doesn't
matter as long as it's African music.
Tarika has been led by Hanitra (pronounced 'Anch') since the
mid-90's when they released their first CD. They are now on
their fourth, the last three of which have hit the top of the
European World Music charts. Their last performance in Los
Angeles was a crowded, hip-shaking event at the Watercourt at
California Plaza downtown last year. The intimate atmosphere
of the Atlas Supper Club will be the place to see them this
year on September 12.
Tickets are available from our website, or the usual stores
(Aron's Records, Rhino Westwood, and Sweet Africa), at an
advance price of $12, or $15 at the door.
http://www.afropulse.com/music/concerts/tarikawaw.html
The real WAW show (always the last Wednesday of the month) is
another spectacle from Cameroon. Bassist extraordinaire Andre
Manga brings his jazz band to perform during dinner and his
makossa band to perform dance music after dinner at the Atlas
Supper Club on September 26.
Andre started playing on his own homemade guitar when he was
still in primary school. He was "discovered" by Manu Dibango
who predicted accurately that this young child would one day
play in Manu's band. Andre joined the group in the 80's and
was musical director as well as being a member of the band. He
also assembled a group of Cameroonian musicians to perform on
Paul Simon's "Rhythm of the Saints" album. After coming to
LA in the 90's, Andre released his first CD on Narada. His love
is jazz, and it shows in the quick, complicated finger work of
his bass playing.
Tickets are available from our website, or the usual stores
(Aron's Records, Rhino Westwood, and Sweet Africa), at an
advance price of $12, or $15 at the door.
http://www.afropulse.com/music/concerts/mangawaw.html
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Around town
Just when it seemed like summer was over and the African shows
would dry up, there was a sudden squall of activity! I am sad
to say that Friday, September 7 you have to make a choice
whether to see Habib Koité at the Conga Room or King Sunny Ade
at the House of Blues. Besides the two AfroPulse shows this
month, Prince Diabaté is playing several venues around town, and
the King of Raï Cheb Khaled joins Hakim for the Desert Rose show
at the Greek Theater. In October things really heat up with the
return of Richard Bona for a free concert downtown, the arrival
of Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe who is currently on a tear across
the United States, Cesaria Evora takes control of the Wiltern,
Youssou N'Dour goes acoustic at UCLA's Royce Hall, and the Afro-
Celt Sound System tours through promoting their new CD.
This will be a surprising finish to the strong summer series and
the capper for one of the strongest years of African music in LA
since the 80's! For details of these shows, visit our monthly
calendar at http://www.afropulse.com/music/concerts/index.html.
jay
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