AfroPulse Concert Newsletter for October

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October 10 2001   AfroPulse Concert News      Volume 1 Issue 9
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Contents:
   September WAW report
   Prince Diabaté
   New releases / touring
   
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West African Wednesdays (WAW)

  September

The September show was caught in the scheduling confusion
caused by the WTC disaster in NY.  Our condolences go out
to all those affected.  Let us hope that peace and harmony
can arise in this tense situation without more bloodshed.
Tarika was scheduled to fly from JFK to LAX on September 11.
They ended up stranded in a hotel in NJ watching the entire
event from the window of their room.  They decided to go
ahead with their tour and drove cross country to meet the
obligations of the West Coast.  The date at Atlas was
rescheduled to fit their new itinerary.

They gave an excellent performance.  The sound system was
perfect for their show which featured only acoustic instru-
ments and occasional acappella harmonies.  Although the
attendence was light, those that were there got a chance to
meet and talk with the band members.  Considering that the
week before Time Magazine had chosen Tarika as one of the
ten best bands in the world (alongside U2 and Radiohead among
others), it was a very rare opportunity to meet them firsthand.
I believe that the intimacy of the concerts that AfroPulse
produces is one of the best reasons for attending them.

We will be taking a break with the holidays coming up soon.
There are no further WAW shows scheduled for 2001 right now.
It has been an amazing year!  I only hope the audiences have
enjoyed the shows that we provided.

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Prince Diabaté

The "Jimmy Hendrix" of the kora is on a mad tour of the city
right now.  He has several evening performances prior to the
noon-time concert on the Watercourt at California Plaza
downtown.  For those of you who live east of West Hollywood
or north in the valley, there is finally a showcase event for
you!  Occidental College in Eagle Rock will present a performance
by Prince Diabaté on Friday, October 12 at 8:00 for only $5.
The show will be held at Occidental College's Thorne Hall,
1600 Campus Road.  The phone number for info is (323) 259-2878.
For other performances, check the concert listing for Diabaté
at http://www.afropulse.com/music/concerts/diabate.html

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New releases / touring

If you missed Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe at the Hawthorne
Memorial Center Hall last Saturday, you will have one last chance
to catch him in town tonight at UCLA's Popper Theatre inside the
Schoenberg Hall.  Call (310) 206-3033 for more information.
Saturday's show drew around 500 people, with nearly every one
of them on the dance floor for most of the show.  His CD "Sound
Time" has been getting good reviews, and on this tour he released
a new recording that was made mere weeks ago.  DJ Nnamdi has
been working hard on this tour across North America.  He should
be commended for his great efforts in bringing this legend to the
American audience, not only in live performances but also as
producer of the Osadebe CD's.

Cesaria Evora is promoting her latest CD "São Vicente" tomorrow
night at the Wiltern Theatre.  Last time she was in town she
played the Hollywood Bowl, so this is a chance to see her without
having to use binoculars.

Youssou N'Dour will be at UCLA next week, and the following week
the rumor is that the AfroCelt Sound System will return.  I don't
know where they will play yet, but watch the calendar and it will
be updated once something turns up.

Next month the big show will be Femi Kuti's return and debut of
the new music on his latest CD "Fight to Win" which will hit the
streets next week.  You may have heard parts of it on KCRW last
Sunday evening.  When I spoke to Femi last year at the Hollywood
Bowl he said that the production was taking long because he wanted
this CD to be better than his last.  On November 13 at the House
of Blues we will get to see for ourselves in person, however I
plan to have a copy of the CD before the show arrives!  Femi Kuti
is one of several young stars that are likely to make up the next
generation of leaders of African music.

For other shows in October, check the calendar on our website at
http://www.afropulse.com/


jay