Kwani Experience going to Europe
Watch out Zim, Netherlands, Belgium and France, you’re about to be blessed with the presence of the remarkable sounds of Kwani Experience – spread the love now. Editorista spent a night getting down at Paradiso, the venue for their Amsterdam performance, it’s awesome – Kwani is a live performance you DO NOT want to miss. Check out their MySpace site here to see dates and venues, otherwise read below for more information. Joburg music and cultural identity ambassdors band Kwani Experience are on an three leg international tour of Zimbabwe, Netherlands, Belgium and France. The band kick started the tour with performances in Zimbabwe which comprised of a Freedom Day celebration 27 April at the South African embassy, two at the Book Cafe/Mannenberg at the famous Harare ‘Avenues’ and two main Worker’s Day (1st May) celebrations at the annual Harare International Festival of the Arts ( H.I.F.A). The band was well recieved by the Zimbabwean audiences and media like the ‘media friendly’ band their know to be. Their performances where a mixture of old and new repertoire from their soon to be released second album. PO lyrist of the band was the best speaker at the press conference made nice contacts with Zimbabwe T.V and Radio, the Herald and Daily Mirror there..will share..) Second leg The second leg of the tour in May/June, will see the band perform at the Mundial Festival in Tilburg, Netherlands, alongside our very own Simphiwe Dana and rock reggaer band Tidal Waves, Toumani Diabate (Mali Korah player and Griot) and the reggae legend Burning Spear. The band will also be doing cultural and artistic exchange workshops with school children and collaborations with other musicians in Belgium and the Netherlands. The band’s performance at the festival will take a Youth Day/Month theme. Third Leg The third leg of the tour, in June, will be a tour of south France with a collaboration project with the French DJ Oil and Jeff Sharel of The Troublemakers and our veteran Pops Mohammed. The collabo is a sequel of a show than last year (2006) in Joburg and will take place at the Africa Fete Festival and shows around Marseille. The project is set to hit Joburg again September this year for the Arts Alive Festival. A recording is expected from this collaboration in the near futuren. As for now…Kwani Experience has just finished recording their..second album with veteran bass player, producer Victor Masondo and maestro-percussionist Tlale Makhene. The album which has taken close to a year to put together promises to be the hottest project this year, re-introducing Kwani Experience the ‘Joburg New Favourite Band’ and introducing the...
Represent Review: SAMA 2008 Nominee Event
The Matrix Malema swanned about at this years nominee announcement cosying up with the stars while checking out the scene on our behalf. He brings us his take on the evening in the quintessential Matrix way – click here to see our photostory. Johannesburg’s weather might be wet and overly soggy this season, but the 2008 MTN South African Music Awards will be the Hottest summer event yet, that’s if Thursdays media gathering gets amplified to the next level for May 5th at the SunCity Superbowl. The Media event started off in a hyped-up mood, with South Africa’s Entertainment Media Personalities facing off to find the freshest scoop on who’ll be doing the outshining at the 14th SAMA ceremony. On Thursday night the up-market Tuscany Manor Mall in the Design District in Fourways was sprawling with bodyguards, beauties and guys, some stars (and some wannabe stars!) for what was dubbed – “The presiding battle horn to the Grandest of All SAMA Events”. The atmosphere, like any well-organized and respectable party in Johannesburg, featured the sounds of well-remixed turntable favorites. This time the maestro behind the decks was the ever smooth – DJ Bonks from Durban (Ethekwini !!!). Expensive perfumes swirled, divinely garnished platters flowed, and the liquor “kept on coming!” – the stars seemed to glitter brighter than everybody else as they put their best sides on show. Firstly, DJ Cleo. The ‘DJ from the north’ has optimistically stated that he foresees a very rewarding year ahead (for both record label and the fan base), particularly because his protégé – Blacksem (the masked one) will be dropping a hot new album entitled ‘Confusing the Masses’ in May. I wish them all the luck (they need it), because this new kid on the block (Blacksem – Die gemaskerde een!) looked to me like nothing more than a cheap imitation of the already tired legacy of the original masked one – Izinyoka – Mzekezeke! After sharing a word and a drink or two with my fellow media compatriots (to gather some A-list intel…”wink!”), I took a siesta moment in the official media room (this is where TV interviews and one on one’s away from the thumping vinyl sounds are secretly conducted). In the comfort of my new “Avant-Garde” space, I managed to have a one-on-one with ProKid, fresh on the heels of his latest album: Heads and Tails. Having listened to and enjoyed his music over the years, I was honoured to spend time finding out more about the person behind the performer. Like DJ Cleo, ProKid also punted a positive beat, only he was (in the Hip-Hop fashion) tres cool...
Call for Entry: Red Bull Music Academy 08
DJ’s and producers, send in your tunes to the selection panel for this years Red Bull Music Academy to be held in the fabulous city of Barcelona, Spain. The application phase for this years Red Bull Music Academy starts on 14 March and ends on the 6th May. More info below. This year, we’re planting our stakes in one of the most beloved creative metropolises to ever exist. It’s where world-class clubs pop till dawn and the terms ‘fusion’ and ‘avant-garde’ are not buzz words but techniques to be applied to everything from deconstructed orchestras to art installations overflowing on street corners. The creators who flock there know they are blessed to live where they can dip their toes both in new projects and at the beach. Barcelona is a city to be celebrated. How To Anyone interested in joining this year’s Academy in Barcelona must follow a few simple steps. Prospective applicants should download the application form here They should then send the completed questionnaire along with a mix-CD or selection of his/her own music, and two current photos to Red Bull South Africa, who will then send it to the Red Bull Music Academy Deadline May, 5th, 2008. Once the application period has ended, sixty of the most promising applicants will be invited to the workshops in Barcelona. Flights and accommodations will be covered by the Red Bull Music Academy. If invited, participants should plan on being a part of either Term 1 (September 21 – October 03, 2008) or Term 2 (October 12 – October 24, 2008). By July 14, 2008, all applicants will be notified via email whether they have been invited or not. Those who have applied previously but have yet to be invited are certainly encouraged to give it another shot. As quite a few second -or third- time applicants have learned, perseverance can certainly pay off. Make sure to check our calendar to find out about infosessions near you featuring special guest speakers. You can also keep track of further news by signing up for our newsletter, join our Facebook group and click back for regular updates and new features, covering all styles of electronic music today, by those who make and live...
CT Jazz festival looking HOT HOT HOT
We’re just reminding you: 28 Jan 08. Looks like this year’s Cape Town International Jazz Festival is taking Jazz to a whole ‘nother level with international superstar Sergio Mendes joining the bash! Some other notables to catch are Belgian based Tutu Puoane and her band, Japanese Jazz pianist funky chicca Hiromi London’s MUST SEE The Bays and US group the Ananda Project … not to mention the good old Manhattans! mhmm ladies… you read right! Cape Town International Jazz Festival organisers could not wait to announce the performance of the award-winning Brazilian musician Sérgio Mendes at next year’s festival scheduled for Friday 28 – Saturday 29 March 2008 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. Having announced the initial 20-artists in November, the plan was to release the next batch of names at the end of January 2008. “With a musician like Sérgio Mendes we couldn’t wait until January to announce his name. Given Mendes’s calibre, we know that people that were doubtful about their attendance next year will now think twice. It’s a coup for the festival and we thought it fair to make the announcement now”, says festival director Rashid Lombard. More than any other Brazilian musician, Mendes has taken samba and bossa nova to the rest of the world. Tunes like “Berimbau” and “Bananeira” are now part of the world’s musical pantheon because Mendes made them popular. “Mas Que Nada”, a tune that Mendes released with his Brasil’66 group was the first song sung in Portuguese to reach the top of Billboard charts. Since then, renowned artists such Oscar Petersen, Hugh Masekela and Al Jarreau have done their own renditions of Mendes’s signature tune. “I’ve always tried to promote the music of Brazil all over the world. There is something very special about Brazilian music – the melodies, the rhythms, the sensuality and the joy”, explained Mendes in a recent interview with Lexus Magazine Interactive. In the four decades that Mendes has been a professional artist, he has influenced different generations of musicians. Starting his career in Niterói in Brazil, the 66-year old composer, arranger and pianist grew up listening to jazz pianists such as Art Tatum, Bud Powell and Horace Silver. This is before Mendes linked up with the greatest Brazilian composer Antonio Carlos Jobim. Jobim arranged most of Mendes’ earlier music. When he moved to the United States (US) in 1964, Mendes began his collaboration with musicians such as Herbie Mann, Stan Getz, Cannonball Adderley, Frank Sinatra and Stevie Wonder. Explaining his urge to explore Brazilian music, jazz pianist Kenny Barron who is also on the line-up for the 2008 Cape Town International Jazz...
Open Deck Sessions @ Trailblazers
So live music has been covered in Durbs with the new Jazzy Rainbow Lounge – what about electronic beats for those who just want to let it all go? Check out the flow of the PR below and head to the Trailblazers event on Saturday night at the classic Willowvale Hotel in Umbilo. (!) We’ve heard good things about it, we love the sound of the “OPEN DECK” sessions in the second bar – nice one! Dear after-hours meanderer & seeker of the ultimate hedonistic experience … throw down your weapons and prepare for a lesson in acoustic jiggy !! TWO live sets and some sexy-ass MINIMAL beats to remind us just why we were blessed with eardrums… The Willowvale Hotel will be subjected to a bass-fuelled evening of up-to-the-minute beats, a bad-ass PA system and the general oral-fodder that goes along with it – without which would be like the banger without the mash! Please get it all this morning with the breakfast of champions … WES (‘live’ – minimal/tech) VERANDAH PANDA (‘live’ – electro/glitch) CHEF (DIRTY DUBBIN’ / UK) ONE TRACK MIKE (electro/minimal) REX ( Afrogalactic, CT) ** and there will be an OPEN-DECK SESSION available to those itchy-fingered vinyl pushers in the second bar. A good PA system and mixer will be awaiting the abuse. Get there early and put your name down to play – anybody welcome (provide you’re not Abba’s greatest groupie) ** 2 DANCEFLOORS / 2 BARS / GREAT PEEPS, BEATS ‘n BOUNCIN’ FEET Host: TRIPHAZARD PRODUCTIONS Saturday, March 15, 21h00pm – 04h00am Location: The Willowvale Hotel, Umbilo Road,...
New Venue in Durban: Jazzy Rainbow
Every city needs fresh venues especially those that cater for serious music-lovers who seek out intimate music-listening environments. New Durban venue with a colourful name “The Jazzy Rainbow” will be kicking off a series of live music gigs with the maestro Madala Kunene on the 27 March – sounds good: The Jazzy Rainbow is currently setting itself up to be one of eThekwini’s key music venues with a series of live music sessions at the venue called “Unplugged Repertoire”. As we will all agree; there is a desperate need for such venues to showcase Durban’s finest musical talents. These music sessions will be held regularly to encourage Durban’s socialites to endeavor into something different from the monotonous clubbing style of entertainment. In an effort to achieve this, Jazzy Rainbow through Slingshot Management will be presenting the legendary Madala Kunene on the 27th of March 2008 at this stylish venue. Known to many simply as Bafo, Madala Kunene has been proclaimed as the king of the Zulu guitar. He has performed worldwide and has collaborated with some of South Africa’s most influential musicians such as Busi Mhlongo & Sipho Gumede. His catalog of works also includes international names such Max Lasser & Airto Moreira. “Madala Kunene is the perfect candidate to initiate these music sessions at Jazzy Rainbow. He will compliment the venue very well with his enigmatic sounds. The venue has such a relaxed ambience which is ideal for Bafo’s acoustic sounds as his music soothes one’s mind after a hectic day” says Fezisa of Slingshot Productions. The event will start at 20h00 with a cover charge of R60.00. The venue takes about 100 people & adheres to a smart dress code. The Jazzy Rainbow is situated on 93 Goble Road, Morningside. For more information on the event, please contact Fezisa Mdibi on 031 312...
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