Fusion Nomads - Tony Vacca's World Rhythms

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Event:

Fusion Nomads

Date:

November 7th, 2010.

Time:

4:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Category:

concert

Location:

Sage Hall, Sweeny Concert Hall, Smith College, Northampton, MA

Contact:

Smith College: http://www.smith.edu/music/facilities.php

Moroccan Gnawa music meets American-based World Music meets Senegalese Hip-Hop. One afternoon...a world of sound. FREE concert!

The Smith College Music Department presents Fusion Nomads, a free concert of music spanning genres and continents, featuring artists including Hassan Hakmoun, The Impulse Ensemble, and Senegalese hip-hop group Gokh-Bi System. Starts at 4 p.m.

Morocco-born performer Hassan Hakmoun, is a staple of New York s rock, jazz, and fusion scenes for his spiritually charged voice and playing. His driving, rhythmic music and his instrument, the sintir (a long-necked African bass lute) are rooted in Gnawa, a Moroccan ceremony of spiritual release. Hakmoun s trance-like music is deeply felt, and he brings a tradition of healing to renderings of jazz, pop, and classical Arabic music.

Impulse Ensemble features Jim Matus (electric laoutar and vocals), Derrik Jordan (electric violin, vocals, and percussion), and Tony Vacca (balafon, gongs, percussion and Spoken Word). They describe their work as a red-hot way-cool free-flow fusion of World Music, Jazz and Spoken Word and share a special interest in the converging traditions and innovations that are constantly redefining what it is to be an American musician at this point in time.

Members of Gokh-Bi System, a Senegalese hip-hop group, are childhood friends from the Dakar, Senegal hood of Pikine Guinaw Rail "literally the other side of the tracks. Gokh-Bi System reunites rap with its ancient West African ancestors in a style dubbed ancient meets urban. A distinctive component of GBS s authentic sound is the ekonting, an ancient instrument once used to calm social unrest played by Sana. Gokh-Bi s positive message, inspired by rap greats from The Last Poets to Chuck D, transform the group's sound into an uplifting yet hard-hitting African homecoming for hip hop.

Fusion Nomads presents an eclectic combination of world music and international artists. The concert is free and open to the public.

GOKH-BI SYSTEM "Mission Of Music" (African Hip-Hop)
www.youtube.com
Gokh-Bi System GBS, Video shoot at the Brooklyn Bridge. African hip hop ambassadors. Ancient Meets Urban Music Dir: Joshua Atesh Litle www.myspace.com/gokhbi

Impulse Ensemble Sample
vimeo.com
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Hassan Hakmoune & Brahim Fibgane Live in New York
www.youtube.com
Hassan and Brahim perform, in New York , a rhythmic Gnawa sound for North Africa

World Rhythms: tel/fax 413.665.1067 • email: tonyvacca@comcast.net