The concert produced with support from Friends of World Music, presents 14 legendary artists from West Africa and Cuba. The supergroup was formed and recorded by Ry Cooder, the producer of Buena Vista Social Club, one of the most successful world music recordings in history. It’s a little known fact that AfroCubism is what Cooder originally intended Buena Vista to be.
AfroCubism was an idea originally conceived of in 1996 to bring the foremost Cuban musicians and their Malian counterparts together on one recording. As it turned out the Malians couldn’t make it to Cuba so an exclusively Cuban album was recorded instead. This went on to be the multi-million selling Buena Vista Social Club.
14 years later the 13 piece all-star cast of musicians reconvened in Spain and recorded AfroCubism. Released in October 2010 the album lived up to the high expectations which preceded it.
AfroCubism features Buena Vista star Eliades Ochoa and a veritable Who’s Who of Malian legends, including Toumani Diabaté, virtuoso of the kora, and guitarist Djelimady Tounkara.
The concert ticket provides free admission to the exhibition El Anatsui: When I Last Wrote to You about Africa, featuring 60 works by the brilliant contemporary West African artist. Opening hours for the exhibition will be extended until show time, 7 pm.
More information at: http://ncartmuseum.org/calendar/type/summer_concerts/
Recordings available:
In North America:
- AfroCubism
- Eliades Ochoa: Buena Vista Social Club, Cubafrica (1998), Sublime Ilusión (1999); Tributo a Cuarteto Patria (2000) and Estoy Como Nunca (2002)
- Toumani Diabate: In the Heart of the Moon (2004), Ali and Toumani
(2010); Boulevard de l’Indépendance (2005), The Mandé Variations (2008), Kaira, Djelika, Kulanjan - Bassekou Kouyate: Segu Blue, I Speak Fula
- Djelimady Tounkara: Sigui (2001) and Solon Kono (2006)
In Europe:
- AfroCubism
- Eliades Ochoa: Buena Vista Social Club
- Toumani Diabate: In the Heart of the Moon (2004), Ali and Toumani(2010); Boulevard de l’Indépendance (2005)
- Bassekou Kouyate: Segu Blue, I Speak Fula
- Djelimady Tounkara: Solon Kono (2006)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
