Nigerian juju icon King Sunny Ade will give North American audiences a chance to witness contagious 40-minute grooves that have been steeped in a modern-day tradition where playing for and reacting to the audience is paramount. The truth is that King Sunny Ade is so well-loved back home, among dignitaries and business leaders, that it is quite a feat to carve out the time for a two-month tour here. But the Chairman likes a change of scenery as much as the next guy, even if he does have to miss out on people “spraying” him with money, as is the tradition back home.
Ade’s last album release here, Seven Degrees North, has been off the market since 2000, when label Blue Moon/Mesa’s distributor V2 collapsed. Blue Moon/Mesa will re-release the album in time for this summer’s tour.
06/11/2009, Atlanta, GA, Variety Playhouse
06/12/2009, Manchester, TN, Bonnaroo Music Festival
06/14/2009, Los Angeles, CA, Playboy Jazz Festival
06/16/2009, Solana Beach, CA, Belly Up Tavern
06/18/2009, Santa Barbara, CA, Lobero Theatre
06/19/2009, San Francisco, CA, The Independent
06/20/2009, North Tahoe, CA, Truckee Regional Park
06/21/2009, Boonville, CA, Sierra Nevada World Music Fest
06/23/2009, Edmonton, AB, Francis Winspear Centre
06/24/2009, Calgary, AB, Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
06/26/2009, Vancouver, BC, Vancouver International Jazz Fest
06/27/2009, Victoria, BC, Jazz Fest International
06/29/2009, Seattle, WA, The Triple Door
06/30/2009, Apple Valley, MN, Weesner Amphitheater
07/01/2009, Highland Park, IL, Ravina Festival
07/03/2009, Rothbury, MI, Rothbury Festival
07/04/2009, Toronto, ON, Harbourfront Centre
07/05/2009, Montreal, QC, Festival International De Jazz De Montreal
07/07/2009, South Burlington, VT, Higher Ground,
07/10/2009, Ottawa, ON, Cisco Ottawa Bluefest 2009
07/11/2009, Quebec City, QC, Quebec City International Summer Fest
07/12/2009, Schenectady, NY, Music Haven
07/14/2009, Camden, NJ, Wiggins Park
07/15/2009, Boston, MA, Museum of Fine Arts
07/17/2009, Washington, DC, 9:30 Club
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central
