Anyone dare hear African music at Barbès this Friday?

raulism

raulism in the present wrote: This is a revisionist post. Kakande is playing again at Barbes, and I am blatantly changing an old post.

This will be your LAST CHANCE (almost) to hear Missia, our singer, before she returns to Guinea.

Would anyone here dare go to Park Slope to hear African music? Even it was as friggin great as my band Kakande? We're at
Barbès
on
Friday
more raulism revisionism wrote: July 20
at
8pm
and it's the real deal.

And if that isn't enough, you can come here my Hungarian band Eletfa at the Hungarian House on Saturday night.

More details, go to
http://www.jumbierecords.com/concerts.html

And check out our new blog! It's at
www.JumbieRecords.typepad.com

Maybe this will be the first time somebody from this board has the courage to hear one of my bands? The next time we play in Brooklyn will be June 16.

pitu

Is that triple fierce child playing?
It wouldn't be the first time I *dared* to attend African musical happenings at Barbes, although
a. I'm already over here
b. I have to admit I found the crowd a big bummer on those nights . . .

(sorry Barbes! I love you!)

raulism

pitu wrote: Is that triple fierce child playing?

As far as I know little Toumani Diabate won't be there, but plenty of other Diabates will be, including Famoro and Missia. Toumani's father is Abdoulaye ("Djoss") and he sometimes sings with us, so you never know for sure, but they're all part of the same crowd.

pitu

Toumani . . . Toumani . . .

so . . . is everybody in the audience a 60ish Peace Corps alum?
Not that I have anything against them, but it was uncomfortably homogenized by race and age (outside of my table) at one of the those Banning Eyre (sp?) nights, with a Malian diva singing. The music was great, but . . .

I've been to Slavic Soul Party at Barbes a bunch of times, and it draws a much different crowd.

raulism

pitu wrote: so . . . is everybody in the audience a 60ish Peace Corps alum?

Uhh, I have no idea who will be there. I'm too busy with saving the Duffield Street Underground Railroad Safehouses and planning a wedding to really know for sure....

I love what Banning is up to, but I can understand what you're talking about. "World music" is often either divided between the purist in their 40s or the hipsters in their 20s. . . .

But ignoring that whole kettle of fish, here is a picture of Missia's birthday in the Bronx:



I can tell you that if you get Missia going, she will shake her butt like you have never seen anyone shake their butt!!!! Damn those Peace Corps alumns, you will have a great time! Or your money back (seriously).

raulism

I am shocked at how many people showed up tonight. I didn't think anyone would come, but it was sold out. And every age group was well represented. I dunno if I can get any pictures, but I can post some if people are interested.

When Barbes is great (which is fairly common), it's really great.

alecorock

Happened to be there... was a good show. But what was up with the band member who was throwin dollars on the singer? Is that common practice? Seemed bizarrely ignorant.

raulism

Alecorock wrote: Happened to be there... was a good show. But what was up with the band member who was throwin dollars on the singer? Is that common practice? Seemed bizarrely ignorant.

Throwing money on the performer is extremely common practice, especially among Guineans, and especially among the caste of musicians known as djeli or griot. It's a little strange to me when people don't do it- though non-African American audiences are pretty uneducated in this regard.

Djeli are praise singers, and when they sing about someone in the audience, oftentimes the expected response is to shower the performer with money. I once went to a show in New York where someone (this was an African crowd) gave the performer a $100 bill, and then another, and then another, and then another, adding up to $1,000. It's not required to give, such as when Famoro sang at Barbes for a bandmember's wife, or for my fiancee. Usually when djelis perform, the stage is littered with cash.

Sylvain , the musician who threw moneyhas been playing African music for at least 20 years. His new CD is being played all over in Guinea right now. He's also the one who took the video at the top of this thread.

But you gotta check out the newest video on Sylvain's YouTube page:

pitu

But you gotta check out the newest video on Sylvain's YouTube page:

:shock:
that child is hardcore

alecorock

Alecorock wrote: Happened to be there... was a good show. But what was up with the band member who was throwin dollars on the singer? Is that common practice? Seemed bizarrely ignorant.

Throwing money on the performer is extremely common practice, especially among Guineans, and especially among the caste of musicians known as djeli or griot. It's a little strange to me when people don't do it- though non-African American audiences are pretty uneducated in this regard.

You probably meant Africans although my relatives from North Africa prob wouldnt be educated in the fine art of money throwing as well. Im glad that we have Barbes to introduce us to the music of the world. You're like Putamayo except you post pics of women's behinds. Good stuff!

raulism

Hey, y'all, Kakande is playing at Barbès THIS Friday July 20. Our amazing singer, Missia, is heading back to Guinea next month, so this is your LAST chance (almost) to hear her sing and do her thing.