{"id":39242,"date":"2022-05-21T07:32:33","date_gmt":"2022-05-21T11:32:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=39242"},"modified":"2022-05-21T07:32:42","modified_gmt":"2022-05-21T11:32:42","slug":"on-stage-sounds-of-africa-come-to-world-cafe-live","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=39242","title":{"rendered":"On Stage: Sounds of Africa come to World Cafe Live"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff,<\/strong> Entertainment Editor, The Times<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"

Vieux Farka Tour\u00e9<\/p><\/div>\n

Vieux Farka Tour\u00e9, who hails from Niafunk\u00e9, Mali, is one of the best musicians from Africa to step onto the world stage.<\/p>\n

Tour\u00e9, who will be performing at the World Caf\u00e9 Live (3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, 215-222-1400, www.worldcafelive.com<\/a>) on May 21, has released eight albums starting with \u201cVieux Farka Tour\u00e9\u201d in 2007.<\/p>\n

His upcoming album\u00a0\u201cLes Racines\u201d\u00a0(translated as \u201cthe roots\u201d), will be released on June 10\u00a0via\u00a0World Circuit Records.<\/p>\n

Tour\u00e9 has music in his DNA. His father Ali Farke Tour\u00e9, who died in 2006 at the age 66, was a internationally acclaimed guitarist from Mali who released more than 20 albums. He was also a national hero in Mali who became mayor of\u00a0Niafunk\u00e9<\/a>\u00a0in 2004 and spent his own money grading the roads, putting in sewer canals and fueling a generator that provided the impoverished town with electricity.<\/p>\n

If Ali Farke Tour\u00e9, who is often referred to as \u201cThe Hendrix of the Sahara\u201d had had his way, Vieux Farke Tour\u00e9 would not have been a musician. <\/p>\n

Ali Farka Tour\u00e9 came from a historical tribe of soldiers and defied his parents in becoming a musician. When Vieux was in his teens, he declared that he also wanted to be a musician. His father disapproved due to the pressures he had experienced being a musician. Rather, he wanted Vieux to become a soldier. But with help from family friend the kora maestro Toumani Diabat\u00e9, Vieux eventually convinced his father to give him his blessing to become a musician shortly before Ali passed.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy father worked in the music industry,\u201d said Vieux Farka Tour\u00e9, during a phone interview Thursday afternoon. \u201cHe never got proper payment for his music.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was a farmer and never went to school. He couldn\u2019t read and didn\u2019t know what his contracts said. So, people in the industry cheated him all the time.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe said to me that it\u2019s better that I get something secure. He wanted me to become a soldier. Instead of gun, I heard my guitar.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I\u2019m starting to play, he said \u2013 O.K., if that\u2019s what you want, no problem. He was a very good person. After four years, we started to play together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vieux was initially a drummer\/calabash player at Mali\u2019s Institut National des Arts, but secretly began playing guitar in 2001. Ali Farka Tour\u00e9 was weakened with cancer when Vieux announced that he was going to record an album. Ali recorded a couple of tracks with him, and these recordings, which can be heard on Vieux\u2019s debut CD, were among his final ones.<\/p>\n

\u201cI grew up with this music,\u201d said Tour\u00e9. \u201cEvery morning, music was playing in our house. When I finished my school at five o\u2019clock, it would be time for the village orchestra.\u201d<\/p>\n

Niafunk\u00e9 is located in the Timbuktu region of Mali \u2013 land of the Songhai. French was the national language and all the residents also spoke Songhai.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter Niafunk\u00e9, we moved to Bamako,\u201d said Tour\u00e9. \u201cThat\u2019s where I went to the University of the Arts. With my music, Songhai was the influence from when I was young.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2005, Eric Herman (still Tour\u00e9\u2019s manager today) of Modiba Productions expressed an interest in producing an album for Vieux. This led to Tour\u00e9\u2019s self-titled debut album, released by World Village in 2007.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn 2003, Eric came to Mali and became my manager \u2013 and my friend,\u201d said Tour\u00e9. \u201cWe\u2019re still together today. He\u2019s like my little brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

The new album, \u201cLes Racines,\u201d is Tour\u00e9\u2019s return to his Malian roots. The timeless grooves of the album are steeped in the traditional music of West Africa and the fire of his guitar playing and the urgency of the messages in his songs add an entirely contemporary relevance.<\/p>\n

According to Tour\u00e9, \u201cEarly in my career people asked why I wasn\u2019t just following my father. But it was important for me to establish my own identity. Now people know what I can do, I can return to those roots with pride, and I hope a certain authority. We are nothing if we abandon respect for the past. But we can also marry modernity with the strength of our traditions.\u201d
\n\u201cI recorded in Bamako in my studio,\u201d said Tour\u00e9. \u201cIt\u2019s a real studio like they have in the states. It\u2019s a 32-track studio. \u00a0We started it before COVOD hit. People still came to the studio to work on the record. We didn\u2019t have a problem with COVID.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 10 songs, all original compositions, address a range of topics, traditional and contemporary.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn Mali many people are illiterate, and music is the main way of transmitting information and knowledge,\u201d said Tour\u00e9. \u201cMy father fought for peace and as artists we have an obligation to educate about the problems facing our country and to rally people and shepherd them towards reason.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Vieux Farka Tour\u00e9 \u2013\u00a0 https:\/\/youtu.be\/zDFRHVCKOoQ<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show on May 21 will start at 9 p.m. Tickets are $22 in advance and $25 at the door.<\/p>\n

\"\"

May Erlewine<\/p><\/div>\n

One of the Midwest\u2019s most prolific and passionate songwriters, Michigan-based\u00a0May Erlewine\u00a0continues to share her gift for writing songs of substance that feel both new and soulfully familiar. Her lyrics offer a window into the heartbreak, empowerment, and emboldened spirit which are a crucial part of her make up.<\/p>\n

On May 21, Erlewine will visit the area for a show at City Winery (990 Filbert Street, Philadelphia, citywinery.com\/philadelphia<\/a>). She is touring in support of her new album, \u201cTiny Beautiful Things,\u201d which was released on May 13 on May Erlewine Records<\/p>\n

Named after the book by Cheryl Strayed, which contains a selection of intimate letters between total strangers, the album is a collection of songs focused on the power of connection and the emotional exchanges surrounding love. The production serves each song with a tenderness you can both hear and feel deeply.<\/p>\n

To the intent listener, it sounds like an honest, loving conversation with one common truth —\u00a0when we share our lives with others, they become richer, stronger, and more full of purpose. This feels especially valuable given the album was made during one of the most isolating and disconnecting times for many — a global pandemic.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m doing almost all of the songs from the album in my live show on this tour,\u201d said Erlewine, during a phone interview Monday on her way from Michigan to a gig in Boston.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe started recording the album in January 2021 \u2013 started shaping the tunes. I co-produced it with my friend Joe Hettinga.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were working completely remotely for the album. I did a lot from home and some at studios close to home. I finished the album in January 2022.\u201d<\/p>\n

The album is timely for these uncertain times.<\/p>\n

According to Erlewine, \u201cThis album is an invitation to connect with the many ways love appears in our lives. If we look around us, it’s always there. I feel thankful to get to share these love stories through music and I hope they find a useful place in your heart.”<\/p>\n

Co-produced with Joe Hettinga, these songs feature some incredible musical talent including a strong presence from Theo Katzman (vulfpeck) on background vocals and electric guitar, mixed by Caleb Parker (Scary Pockets), and mastered by Devin Kerr (Goodhertz).<\/p>\n

May considers her career in the music industry as a service-oriented one and uses her platform for positive change. She stresses the importance of environmental advocacy, social justice, creative empowerment, and community building as necessary\u00a0work in our world.<\/p>\n

May’s body of work has become an anthem and an example of why we need to listen to women, empower women, and why we need to hear their\u00a0stories.\u00a0\u00a0A few of the organizations in which she\u2019s been involved include\u00a0350.org<\/a>, Safe House Ann Arbor, On the Ground Global, Cross Hatch Center for Arts and Ecolog and Bioneers Conference.<\/p>\n

Her lyrical content, which is really stories crafted through Erlewine\u2019s unique experiences, are rooted in wisdom, joy, sorrow, simplicity, and love. Musically, she carries the songwriter’s torch through many genres and sonic landscapes. The delicate arrangements seem to land somewhere between the go-to labels, making it difficult to describe and easier to enjoy.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I write songs, it\u2019s usually a feeling that is the beginning,\u201d said Erlewine. \u201cThere is the inspiration\/feeling base and then the lyrics come. Then, I get a melody or a tune. After that, I go back to see how the words and music fit together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Among Erlewine\u2019s successes, perhaps her greatest accomplishment is that her music has touched people all over the world. When she starts to sing with that beautifully clear and warm voice, there\u2019s no way around it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can dig into a deep place,\u201d said Erlewine. \u201cI like to be able to connect with people. The main thing I focus on is for it to be useful. I\u2019m a service-oriented musician.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for May Erlewine \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/N4vkYgeB35Q<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show on May 21 will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $22, $24 and $28.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Jon Snodgrass<\/p><\/div>\n

Jon Snodgrass\u00a0is a musician and member of the groups\u00a0Armchair Martian<\/a>, Scorpios, and\u00a0Drag the River<\/a>. He also performs solo.<\/p>\n

He currently is touring as a trio \u2013 guitar, drums and bass. The tour will make two stops in the area \u2013 May 25 at Phantom Power (121 West Frederick Street, Millersville, www.phantompower.net<\/a>) and May 27 at\u00a0 Kung Fu Necktie (1248 North Front Street, Philadelphia, 215-291-4919, kungfunecktie.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Snodgrass is on the road playing shows in support of his new album, \u201cTace,\u201d which was recently released via A-F Records.<\/p>\n

\u201cI started recording \u2018Tace\u2019 before the pandemic,\u201d said Snodgrass. \u201cIt was done and in the can before the pandemic arrived. We thought stuff was going to happen, so we held back the release.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t really complain because about the pandemic shutdown because everyone took a hit. We\u2019re all equally significant and equally insignificant.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe recorded the album in a bunch of different places. We did some in Oklahoma at the Hansons\u2019 studio and some in New Jersey at Volume IV, Chris Pierce\u2019s studio.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe album was supposed to come out in the middle of 2020. It came out in October 2021 and did really well. We did the first pressing of 1,000 and it sold out before the year was over \u2013 without any touring. We had to make another pressing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Snodgrass, who lives in Fort Collins<\/a>,\u00a0Colorado<\/a>, has an impressive music CV.<\/p>\n

In addition to being a founding member of\u00a0Armchair Martian,\u00a0Drag The River and Scorpios, he also has made records with Frank Turner, Cory Branan, and Joey Cape, and has toured all over the world with Flogging Molly, Frank Turner, Justin Townes Earle, Chuck Ragan, Cory Branan, Austin Lucas, Lenny Lashley, Joey Cape, Tony Sly, Northcote, Chris Wollard & The Ship Thieves, and Mike Herrera.<\/p>\n

Snodgrass also writes jingles \u2013 and actively supports the brands that he composes for. One of those brands is Odell Brewery.<\/p>\n

Odell Brewing Company\u00a0is an independent craft brewery in\u00a0Fort Collins, Colorado. It\u2019s the 23rd largest U.S. craft brewing company by the\u00a0Brewers Association. Odell Brewing is known for its hop-forward and balanced IPAs.<\/p>\n

\u201cOdell Brewing is big throughout the Midwest but it\u2019s new to both coasts,\u201d said Snodgrass. \u201cMy gift to them \u2013 on this tour, I deliver their product and give it to the bars to sample. I have cases of beer with me on this tour \u2013 including two cases of hard kombucha.\u201d<\/p>\n

Snodgrass has headed east with beer and a batch of new tunes from \u201cTace.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m starting to play all the songs from \u2018Tace\u2019 in my set,\u201d said Snodgrass. \u201cI always have songs handy.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the first time I really played any of the songs off the album. I\u2019m just trying to play music and have fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Jon Snodgrass \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/AYXbvx3TiD0<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show on May 25 at Phantom Power will start at 8 p.m.<\/p>\n

Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door.<\/p>\n

The show on May 27 at Kung Fu Necktie will start at 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

Tickets are $12.<\/p>\n

On May 21, SRUTI (www.sruti.org<\/a>) will present a twin-bill of Indian classical music \u2013 a pair of Carnatic music concerts at the Fugett Middle School Auditorium (500 Ellis Lane, West Chester).<\/p>\n

SRUTI, The India Music and Dance Society is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization. Every year, around 10 or more world class music and dance recitals are presented during the Spring and Fall seasons by SRUTI in the Greater Philadelphia area.<\/p>\n

The first concert on Saturday will be the Bala Bhavam Concert featuring Sahana Sreeram (Violin), Srihari S Raman (Mridangam) and Samyuktha Sreeram (Ghatam). It will run from 3-4 p.m.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0mridangam\u00a0is a\u00a0percussion instrument\u00a0of ancient origin. It is the primary rhythmic accompaniment in a\u00a0Carnatic music\u00a0ensemble. During a percussion ensemble, the mridangam is often accompanied by the\u00a0ghatam.<\/p>\n

The ghatam is one of the most ancient percussion instruments of India. It is a clay pot with narrow mouth. From the mouth, it slants outwards to form a ridge. Made mainly of clay backed with brass or copper filings with a small amount of iron filings, the pitch of the ghatam varies according to its size. The pitch can be slightly altered by the application of plasticine clay or water.<\/p>\n

Sahana Sreeram\u00a0studies Carnatic\u00a0violin\u00a0under Sri Subhash Vinjamuri and Sri Kamalakiran Vinjamuri. She also learns carnatic vocal music from Kalaimamani Smt. Charumathi Ramachandran.Sahana has won awards in Cleveland Tyagaraja Aradhana, Chicago Tyagaraja Utsavam, and SIFAA in North Carolina. Sahana has performed in the USA, Canada, and in Chennai Margazhi festivals.<\/p>\n

Srihari S Raman\u00a0was born into a musical lineage, with his recent ancestry consisting of his uncle, Kalaimamani Dr. Udayalur Kalyanarama Bhagavathar. Srihari was introduced into the journey of Carnatic Music at the age of four. Srihari continued his advanced training in\u00a0mridangam\u00a0under Kalaimamani Guru. Sri. Tiruvarur Vaidyanathan. Srihari has accompanied many esteemed vidwans within the United States, Canada, and India as well.<\/p>\n

Samyuktha Sreeram\u00a0is a disciple of the Late Sangita Kalacharya Sri TH Subash Chandran and currently is a disciple of Sri N Guruprasad and Sri Akshay Anantapadmanabhan. She also learns carnatic vocal music from Kalaimamani Smt. Charumathi Ramachandran. Samyuktha has provided\u00a0ghatam\u00a0accompaniment for concerts in the US, Canada, and in India.<\/p>\n

The featured concert on May 21 will be a Carnatic Vocal Concert by Vidushi Krithika Natarajan at 4:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

Krithika Natarajan had her initial training under Dr. Manjula Sriram and later under Sri Lalgudi G.Jayaraman. She is currently under the tutelage of Smt.Ranjani and Smt.Gayatri. She is an A grade artist on the All India Radio, Chennai and has performed in many prestigious venues in India and abroad. She has numerous accolades to her credit and has been featured in several TV channels and in newspapers. In addition to being a performing vocalist, she trains many students across the globe. Academically she is an MBA graduate, currently pursuing music full time.<\/p>\n

She will be accompanied by Rajeev Mukundan (Violin) and Vinod Seetharaman (Mridangam).<\/p>\n

Rajeev Mukundan began his violin lessons with Shri N.Govindarajan at a very young age. He is currently receiving advanced training from Sangeetha Kalanidhi A.Kanyakumari for over a decade. He is an \u2018A\u2019-grade artist on the All India Radio. He has received numerous awards from prestigious organizations and has travelled extensively on concerts, both in India and abroad.<\/p>\n

He has given many violin duet concerts with his Guru A.Kanyakumari, and has also accompanied senior artistes. He has been a part of many unique jugalbandis and musical collaborations.<\/p>\n

Vinod Seetharaman is among the most accomplished and sought after first generation Carnatic percussionists in the United States. His training in Mridangam started at the age of seven from Shri. Ardhanareeswaran, and he continues his advanced training from Bangalore Shri. Arjun Kumar and Shri. Umayalpuram Sivaraman.<\/p>\n

The purity and sophistication of Vinod\u2019s mridangam training has enabled him to accompany four generations of Carnatic musicians including Dr. M Balamuralikrishna, T N Seshagopalan, Dr. N Ramani, TM Krishna, Bombay Jayashri, Chitravina Ravikiran, Neyveli Santhanagopalan, Abhishek Raghuram.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Vieux Farka Tour\u00e9, who hails from Niafunk\u00e9, Mali, is one of the best musicians from Africa to step onto the world stage. Tour\u00e9, who will be performing at the World Caf\u00e9 Live (3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, 215-222-1400, www.worldcafelive.com) on May 21, has released eight albums starting with \u201cVieux […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":39239,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[6518,13611,13613,13612],"class_list":["post-39242","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-featured","tag-jon-snodgrass","tag-may-erlewine","tag-vieux-farka-toure"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39242","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=39242"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39242\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":39243,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39242\/revisions\/39243"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/39239"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=39242"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=39242"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=39242"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}