Monday, April 17
It’s a kora extravaganza this time in the Global Village with a wide array of artists and styles of music that incorporate the exquisite, harp-like traditional instrument of West Africa. Among the artists featured: kora great Toumani Diabate, electric kora players Seckou Kouyate and Dawda Jobarteh, Foday Musa Suso with contemporary classic ensemble Kronos Quartet, Seckou Keita in imaginative pairings with harp player Catrin Finch and Latin jazz pianist Omar Sosa, the Kora Band jazz ensemble, and guitarist Derek Gripper’s impressive re-imagination of the kora on six strings.
Tuesday, April 18
Global Village marks Independence Day of Zimbabwe with music from a number of artists from that country, including the legendary Thomas Mapfumo whose chimurenga music was an integral part of the independence movement; acclaimed singer-songwriter Oliver Mtukudzi; traditional mbira player Ephat Mujuru; one of the first major female artists to play mbira, Stella Chiweshe; and popular dance bands, the Bhundu Boys and the Four Brothers.
Wednesday, April 19
Some ‘unlikely reggae’ this time in the Global Village – with reggae-influenced music from other parts of the world, and reggae covers of unusual songs from the Warsaw Afrobeat Orchestra, the Wailing Souls, the Easy Star All Stars and more. Plus more world jazz sounds for the April Jazz Appreciation Month feature from Rebel Tumbao.
Thursday, April 20
Global Village continues its April Jazz Appreciation Month/World Jazz feature with music from two artists born on this date who bring together world and jazz influences – Latin jazz legend and “Mambo King” Tito Puente and Israeli-born bassist Avishai Cohen. Plus new music from the great Congolese soukous band L’Orchestre Afrisa International , Ethiopian artists Yishak Banjaw and Girma Beyene, and Corky Siegel’s Chamber Blues.
Friday, April 21
Global Village highlights some ‘roots’ sounds – including the song “Roots,” the B-side of a single from Bob Marley and the Wailers, a roots reggae album from Ivory Coast’s Tiken Jah Fakoly, and an Iberian roots project from El Naan. Plus more world jazz sounds for the April Jazz Appreciation Month feature, this time from Brazilian singer Joyce Moreno, the world jazz blends of the Souljazz Orchestra and TriBeCaStan, and the jazz-influenced Afrobeat of Fela.
