Archive for September, 2007
Sunday, September 30th, 2007
Everybody wondered where the Nana Quame disappeared to after bringing out some great his in the early days of his career as a highlife artiste.
He dropped in and out of the music scene with a couple other albums (Y’ate, Odo Shock, Awo de me, Atia Donko, and Soldier) in between, but none as good as that which he started with.
Nana Quame, a product of Preseco in Teshie Nungua has graced the music industry with his vocal presence ever since he completed his secondary education.
His is simply a life of music. Nana Quame sees himself primarily as a highlife artiste and although, he has been hiding away in the UK to work on his compositions he’s been recording in studios right here in Ghana with Zapp Mallet, Apietus, AB and Kaywaa.
Now he completed works on his masterpiece, bringing with it “Power”. (Maybe the album title was inspired by the current power predicament in the country or maybe not).
He told us what the name meant to him and why he chose to title the album as such.
With ‘Power’, he believes that in music, “I am powerful. I’ve got a very powerful voice when it comes to music… so basically with this album I wanted to tell people how powerful I am when it comes to music.”
The 15-tracked album (8 tracks on the cassette) featuring KK Fosu, Snooky, Nana Batti, and Nana Antwi will come out on the market in a month or less. By early October, “Power” should be on every music shelf nation wide.
Interestingly, his new management, Universal Entertainment is using this album for charity. They are finding a way to give back to society having been given so much by the Ghanaian fans. S
o here’s what they are doing, explains Nana: “When you take a very close look, it looks like musician are not really contributing to the system so we feel this is the time for someone to take that step… In every nation the strength of the people is how well or strong the people are and water is one of the biggest problems we have in the villages and we plan getting them some boreholes.
We have some 10 villages we are trying to help and we plan raising funds to get them these boreholes. So this album is for charity.”
If that’s not a noble gesture by Universal Entertainment, I don’t know what is. Ours ears are on the ground waiting for “Power’s” release.
[Via Ghana Base Music]
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Sunday, September 30th, 2007
SOUNDS from the mini concert by Kampala Music School led by Uganda piano maestro Fred Kiggundu Musoke soothed the air, as the guests at the British high commissioner’s residence in Nakasero toasted to the school’s ambitions.
As they devoured the opera made up of different musical instruments, much as the guests wanted to sing along, they could barely do so as most of the tunes though irresistible, were unfamiliar.
The music was the kind that could lead one to develop musical ideas, with detailed musical-analytical strategies, visual imagery, feelings, thoughts and wanting to listen again and continue pondering about.
Five years since its inception, Kampala Music School finally launched its strategic plan, amidst a rare combination of world-class music on Monday.
The chief guest, Charles Mbiire, the chairman of MTN Uganda and one of the initiators of the school, commended the school for developing young people’s talent.
Over 1,600 students have learnt an instrument or studied voice, and about 500 are taught every month.
The music school has become a centre of excellence in Uganda for teaching, learning and performances of western classical music.
[Via New Vision]
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Sunday, September 30th, 2007
Two leading Congolese musicians are due in Kenya for a concert next month. “Queen of Mutuashi” Tshala Muana and soukous maestro King Kester Emeneya will perform at the Carnivore in Nairobi on the eve of Moi Day - October 10.
Their promoter Jules Nsana of Nsana Promotions says rhumba fans are in for a great treat.
“We are considering adding two artistes for the concert, but this will depend on how many sponsors we get on board,” he adds. However, Nsana acknowledges the fact that it is Tshala Muana who will be the main attraction at the concert as she is known for her sensual dance style which she last showcased in Nairobi in 1995.
Tshala Muana
The former MP started her career as a dancer, but switched to singing in the early 1970s, After moving to Cote d’Ivoire from her home country, she epitomised the life of a successful panAfrican singer throughout the 1980s with a string of hits. They include Tshikunda, which veers from the turbo-charged production in favour of a more relaxed, semi-acoustic approach.
Coincidentally, the theme of the song is similar to that of the previous one, except that Tshala is less forgiving and hints that the ageing woman is without a man because she has nagged him away.
In East Africa, many fans still adore her for the Karibu Yangu and Dezo Dezo tracks. Other popular songs are Ndeko ya Samwuel, Lwatu and Kokola.
Tshala’s voice and tunes are a reflection of the Congolese traditions. She sings panAfrican music with a clear sense of where home is, and has two distinct vocal styles - a sweet, girlish tone and one that is more husky and raw, with quavers and ululations that hint at rural styles. Her melody lines rarely use the scalar motion of most pop around the world; they jump around like the patterns plinked out on a traditional African thumb piano.
Like male soukous singers, Tshala Muana flaunts her sexuality. In Mutuashi, she calculatedly touched her breasts and crotch, and smiled at the audience.
But her music doesn’t depend on provocation; its pleasures are in the lilt of the rhythms and the endlessly unfurling melodies and countermelodies.
King Emeneya
King Emeneya’s name may not ring a bell much with Kenyan fans, but he is considered one of the maestros of Congolese music. Many of his fans actually claim that he influenced the style of musicians like did Tabu Ley and Papa Wemba.
He launched his career with Viva Musica in 1977. However, he eventually broke away with most of the key musicians to form Victoria Eleison.
The band became a darling of the Congolese youth, but he too suffered various desertions, at one time finding himself alternating between the “cutting edge” of experimentation and on the periphery of a dangerous area of bland commercial mediocrity. Emeneya continued to release albums with mixed success. His virtual exile in Europe throughout the 1990s saw his career dance between high and low, with releases of conventionally styled good albums and less successful experiments.
His career took an amazing upturn in 1997 with the release of the album, Succes Fou. Capitalising on this success and on the changing political situation in the DRC, he made a triumphant return to Kinshasa and rebuilt his group with a youthful lineup that could match any rival’s.
With release of Mboka Mboka, Emeneya decided to overhaul his band, and this saw the new-look Victoria Eleison Dream Team Dream Band playing in an extended style of hard Congolese rhumba-sebene. With six female and several young male dancers the visual performance surpassed most by Congolese contemporaries. The singer has the ability to reproduce a live atmosphere in the studio by eliminating unnecessary remixing and doctoring.
His tracks, Mboka Mboka, Longue Histoire and Rendre à Cesar, have the natural and vibrant live energy that many clinical studio productions lack. For some listeners, the slightly tacky keyboard embellishment may be a little intrusive, and this is why many call him king.
[Via The Nation]
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Sunday, September 30th, 2007
Jose Chameleone is to perform at the Big Brother Africa Eviction Party in South Africa tomorrow, according to Multichoice Uganda.
The Ugandan music “heavyweight” will fly from the US straight to South Africa where he is to perform, backed up by his young brother Weazal.
Chameleone will perform a few minutes before the whole continent gets to know whether it’s the South African loud mouth Lerato or the Zimbabwean gossip Bertha leaving the House.
Bertha and Lerato are up for possible eviction this week though Uganda’s Maureen would be on the safer side if Bertha leaves this Sunday. Chameleone has promised to do his best to impress the audience at Big Brother.
“Of course all of you know what I can do when I’m on stage and I hope to deliver as usual,” said Chameleone who is currently living in California with his family. Chameleone is considering performing his latest hit Sivyo Ndivyo featuring Prof. J or Mawoko Na Mawoko, his 2006 hit in the Shona language.
[Via The Monitor]
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Sunday, September 30th, 2007
Jonathan Butler fans that parted with the princely sum of Shs120,000 can attend his Kampala Serena Hotel concert today knowing well that they are going to have a whale of a time. The US-based South African musician jetted into town on Friday afternoon to play at a one-night only concert.
Butler arrived aboard a Kenya Airways flight and was driven to Kampala Serena Hotel to sleep off the weariness of a lengthy flight.
He arrived accompanied by four musicians; Kurt Lykes (vocalist), Stan Sergeant (guitarist), Kenneth Knight (keyboardist) and Eric Valentine (drums).
The grey-haired, dressed down musician told journalists upon arrival that that he was upbeat about his visit, his first to East Africa. “Uganda is so similar to South Africa especially the greenery,” said Butler who resides in Los Angeles. Butler also said he was excited about lending his talent to a noble cause.
The proceeds from the concert will go towards setting up an educational trust fund in aid of children orphaned by HIV/Aids under the care of Taso (The Aids Support Organisation). Jonathan Butler was born in October 1961 in Cape Town, South Africa. The singer/songwriter/guitarist is often classified as R&B, jazz-fusion or smooth jazz.
Butler was born and raised during the apartheid era and started singing and playing acoustic guitar as a child. Racial segregation and poverty during apartheid has been the subject of many of his records.
His first single, the first by a black artiste played by white radio stations in the racially segregated South Africa, earned a Sarie Award, South Africa’s equivalent to the Grammys.
He began touring at the age of seven when he joined a travelling stage show, and was later signed up to perform on a string of hit recordings, turning him into a local teenage idol. In 1978, he found the inspiration and encouragement to begin expressing himself as a composer and songwriter when he joined Cape Town’s best-known jazz/rock outfit, Pacific Express. Two albums were recorded with the Express personnel, and some Pacific Express songs were later released on the 1988 7th Avenue album.
Butler was signed to Jive Records in 1977, and in the early 1980s, he moved to England where he remained for 17 years. His international breakthrough came in 1987 with his Grammy nominated hit Lies and his version of the Staple Singers song If You’re Ready (Come Go with Me), which he performed with Ruby Turner. His other popular songs include Take Good Care of Me, Mandela Bay and River of Life which Ugandan contestant Paul Lwanga sang at last year’s Tusker Project Fame contest.
[Via The Monitor]
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Sunday, September 30th, 2007
Kenyan Kora Award-winning singer-songwriter Eric Wainaina will perform today at the grand finale of the Concours d’Elegance. Also in attendance will be Mitch Egwang, the presenter of the Deal, or No Deal MNET TV programme.The two artistes will be at the Nairobi Racecourse for the Schweppes East Africa Concours d’Elegance.
Todays’s event will be the 37th organised by the Alfa Romeo Owners Club.
The Concours tradition has its roots in the 17th century. On high days and holidays the French nobility gathered in the parks of Paris in their best horse drawn carriages wearing fine clothes.
These social meetings gave rise to the name “Concours d’Elegance” (a gathering of elegance). Following the advent of the motor car similar meetings were held by the owners of expensive and luxurious machines. Car and motorcycle manufacturers soon took the opportunity to display their latest models and the Concours developed into a competitive event.
Schweppes will be offering grand prizes for the best dressed man and woman who will each win a Woolworths voucher worth Sh50,000. The Nairobi Racecourse will be decked in the colours of yellow and black and spectators wearing hats will get a complimentary welcome drink.
From 9 am, classic and vintage cars and motorcycles will take centre stage in the key event on the motor calendar and also considered by many to be the greatest local spectator motoring event. While the assessment of the competing cars and motorcycles is the main reason for holding the Concours, it has evolved into a major date on Kenya’s social calendar and a family fun day.
There will be a free children’s entertainment centre, live band music, a spectacular free fall parachute drop and the commentators will announce a series of fly pasts. A marching band will head a parade of all the vehicles in front of the main Racecourse grand stands followed by prize giving.
After this will come the grand finale with Wainaina and Mitch Egwang bringing the curtain down.
[Via The Nation]
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Sunday, September 30th, 2007
When Kenyan gospel musician Esther Wahome burst into the national limelight several years ago with the song, Kuna Dawa, some people were uncomfortable because, they claimed, it sounded like it was meant for the disco and not the Church. But it was, and still is, as popular in discos as in churches.
Although she has not come out to defend the song, a lot of her fans argue that people who need gospel ministering are more likely to be found at discos.
If the Kenyan singer earned criticism, then Kirk Franklin should have been crucified. The 37-year-old African American is a platinum-selling gospel artiste whose songs - a perfect blend of gospel, hip-hop and R&B - are big hits on secular circles, including discos, all over the world.
And his fans in Kenya and the rest of East Africa have the chance to see their star in action. He will be performing during Extreme Weekend, a youth event organised by the Nairobi Lighthouse Church.
According to Steve Osoro, one of the publicity team, Franklin will stage three shows in Kenya - the first at Bomas of Kenya, Nairobi, on October 11, and Moi International Sports Centre, also in Nairobi, on October 13 and 14. Entrance for Bomas is Sh6, 500, while for Kasarani, it will be Sh600 for the golden seating and Sh300 for the gallery.
Rufftone, a leading local gospel musician, says he is one of Kenyan artistes inspired Franklin. “Kirk Franklin is a great musician who has managed to do what we call a cross-over,” he says. “He goes out there and reaches out to people in secular circles, and that is something that I have leant to do.”
He adds Franklin has a huge fan-base, and that the forthcoming concerts will be one of the biggest occasions in the country, arguing that it will bring many music lovers.
As a platinum-selling artiste and winner of five Grammy awards, there few gospel musicians in recent times have been able to match him.
His run-away success has seen him collaborate with some of the biggest stars in the music world. Among them are Marry Mary, rocker Bono of U2, Mary J. Blige, R.Kelly, Cristal Lewis and Salt-N-Pepa.
He developed his music talent early in life, playing the piano at age 4 and becoming a music director of his Greater Strangers Rest Church at 11. After leading a mass choir at the 1990 Gospel Music Workshop of America convention, Franklin organised “The Family” - a 17-voice choir in 1992.
He signed with GospoCentric in 1993 to release Kirk Franklin & The Family, which took almost two years on the gospel and R&B charts, which is rare for a gospel artist singer.
[Via The Nation]
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Sunday, September 30th, 2007
PASTOR Charles Charamba’s latest 10-track album titled New Testament in Song departs from his usual museve beat to a mixture of other beats.
But this should not be construed to mean that the album is lukewarm.
In fact, New Testament in Song opens up a new chapter in Charamba’s music career.
It marks the beginning of classical tendencies in Charamba’s music, and although his 1998 release John 3: Verse 16 that carried hits such as Machira Chete, Mhinduro Iripo and Sarudzai remains as one of the people’s favourites, New Testament in Song marks a refreshing introduction of a novel beat by the musician.
This is what Oliver Mtukudzi and Thomas Mapfumo did with their beats, which they revolutionised and modernised to move with contemporary music trends.
A discerning listener would also find that message-wise, New Testament in Song, is much of a social awareness album just as good as it is full of praise, much of which is derived from the Old Testament.
Chisiya — a laid-back and soul-searching song — talks about the merits of marriage.
The song implies that marriage — if both partners stick to their vows — can be an effective tool against immorality, which leads to HIV/Aids.
Here, the listener is involuntarily reminded of Amai Olivia Charamba’s song Rute which also carries a similar message and beat.
Probably for the first time, Charamba goes the shangara way in Ndoga Handimire, in which he expresses fear at being on his own without God as his pillar.
The message that he spread in one of his earlier hits Handidi Naye in which he spoke against paganism is resumed in Hazvigone, where he states:
“Hazvigone kunamata mashavi ndichisiya Mwari wandakaziva, hazvigone.”
It is one of the few sungura bonuses on the album and many listeners are definitely going to fall in love with it and wear out the soles of their shoes.
If you liked Kuna Mwari Kudenga then you will certainly love this song.
In spite of its title that reminds the listener of Sugar Sugar’s track of the same title, Rinenge Jee is typical of the Charamba we’re used to: a compelling lead guitar and mellow backing vocals that makes one tap their shoes in appreciation.
It talks about how the gospel of Christ’s Second Coming is taken as a joke in this era where false gods manifest themselves through various ways.
All of a sudden Charamba soft-pedals and goes the smooth way in the smooth ballad Mutsvene Mutsvene in which he praises God as pure, perfect and omnipotent.
He cites Abraham whom God described as an epitome of uprightness, and thus a true reflection of God’s image.
What sounds like saxophones are heard mourning, whining and humming like wounded sentimental beasts in the background.
Could it be Charamba was experimenting with jazz on this very spiritual track?
Mukondombera Imhandu, carries a potent message of social consciousness and in it the musician makes a declaration against HIV/Aids that is claiming many lives, believers included.
“Baba vakafa nemukondombera, vose vakapera nemukondombera, mukondombera imhandu yedu,” he affirms.
Theme-wise, Mukondombera Imhandu is close to Komborerai Vana, on Verses and Chapters.
Drivers who drink and drive are rebuked in Musatyaire Makadhakwa, a self-explanatory song. The message is relevant because negligent driving has become one of the major causes of road accidents over the years.
Kucheuka Cheuka, Mombe Ndedzemukaka and Ndosara Ndimire add spice to the album. The album, recorded at Fishers of Men Studios and mastered at Cross Line Music, is being marketed and distributed by Gramma Records.
[Via The Herald]
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Saturday, September 29th, 2007
U2 singer Bono has been awarded the Liberty Medal for his humanitarian work in Africa.
The star was presented with the accolade in the US city of Philadelphia by last year’s winner, George Bush, the father of the current US president.
He will donate the $100,000 (£49,200) cash prize to the Debt Aids Trade Africa charity he founded in 2002.
Speaking at the ceremony, the musician said: “When you are trapped by poverty, you are not free.”
He added: “When trade laws prevent you from selling the food you grew, you are not free.
“When you are a monk in Burma this very week, barred from entering a temple because of your gospel of peace… well, then none of us are truly free.”
Bono also called on Americans to continue helping the world.
“America has so many great answers to offer,” he said. “We can’t fix all the world’s problems, but the ones we can, we must.”
The Liberty Medal, established in 1988, is awarded by the US National Constitution Center to those who have “demonstrated leadership and vision in the pursuit of liberty”.
The organisation describes itself as being dedicated to increasing public understanding of, and appreciation for, the US constitution, its history and its contemporary relevance.
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Friday, September 28th, 2007
KAMPALA Music School (KMS) and Uweso are holding a joint charity classical concert featuring world renowned Romanian Pianist Gabriela Imreh and US conductor, Daniel Spalding and a local mass choir.
Spalding will conduct a mass choir of 120 singers and the newly founded Kampala Music Orchestra of 30 instrumentalists to perform today at the Sheraton Hotel Rwenzori Ballroom at 7:00pm and at the National Theatre on Sunday September 30 at 4:30pm.
Tickets at the Sheraton go for sh50,000 and National Theatre sh20,000 adults and sh10,000, children. All proceeds towards UWESO and KMS.
The festival choir constitutes singers from five choirs - All Saints Cathedral choirs, Christ the King Choir, Kampala Chamber Choir, Kampala Singers and the Evangelical choir.
The choir will perform pieces by J. S. Bach, Handel, Mozart and Beethoven.
According to a press brief Imreh is a Romanian born pianist and has been performing with leading orchestras including the Vancouver Symphony.
Her performance has captivated audiences on four continents.
Daniel Spalding who will conduct the mass choir is the music director of the Philadelphia Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra as well as a frequent guest conductor throughout Europe and North America.
Tickets are available at Kampala Music School YMCA Wandegeya on Buganda Road.
Source: New Vision
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