Media Release 17 June 2011
AfroCubism, the original Buena Vista Social Club, perform at the National Concert Hall as part of the Navigator Series 2011
AfroCubism, featuring the greatest gathering of Malian and Cuban musicians including the renowned Kora player Toumani Diabaté and Cuban guitarist Eliades Ochoa , will perform at The National Concert Hall on Tuesday 19 July 2011, 8pm as part of the Navigator Series 2011.
Described as ‘a joyous, classy, historic affair’ by The Guardian newspaper and ‘a cross-cultural tour de force’ by The Times, AfroCubism brings the best of Cuban and Malian music on stage played by some of the most renowned and respected musicians performing on the world stage today.
The group are often referred to as the original Buena Vista Social Club because in 1996, a group of Mali’s finest musicians were due to fly into Havana for a speculative collaboration with some of Cuba’s most talented singers and musicians, however, the Malians never arrived. The result was the epoch defining Buena Vista Social Club. Fourteen years later the band that was meant to be; AfroCubism, released their album of the same name with World Circuit Records (October 2010).
Fronting the Cuban team is the cowboy-hatted singer and guitarist Eliades Ochoa, singer of the great Buena Vista theme ‘Chan Chan’. The two original Malian invitees are multi award-winning ngoni lute master Bassekou Kouyate and the extraordinary Rail Band guitarist Djelimady Tounkara, both universally agreed to be among the world’s great instrumentalists.
Joining them are Eliades' Grupo Patria, amongst Cuba's longest running and most revered bands, the mercurial kora genius Toumani Diabaté, legendary Malian griot singer Kasse Mady Diabaté and the innovatory balafon player Lassana Diabaté.
This concert is presented by The National Concert Hall and Improvised Music Company as part of The Navigator Series 2011 which brings the world’s finest jazz and world music performs to Irish audiences throughout 2011. The final concert in the series on Wednesday 9 November at 8pm features jazz and flamenco musicians Pape Habichuela (guitar) and Dave Holland (double-bass).
AfroCubism Musicians: Eliades Ochoa, guitar, vocal Toumani Diabaté, kora Bassekou Kouyate, ngoni Kasse Mady Diabaté vocals Djelimady Tounkara, guitars Lassana Diabate, balafon Osnel Odit, guitar Jose Martinez, bass Jorge Maturell, congas Eglis Ochoa, percussion Lennis Lara, trumpet Alain Dragoni, trumpet Baba Sissoko, talking drum
Tickets: €25, €35, €40 (Choir Balcony: €20) 20% Discount for Friends and Groups / 10% Concessions National Concert Hall Box Office Tel: 01 417 00 00 or www.nch.ie (no booking fee)
ENDS For further information please contact: Sinead Doyle, Marketing & PR Manager, Tel: 01 417 0057 or 087 1775334.
“Elegantly crafted meeting of African and Cuban master musicians.” THE TIMES ****star review
"The cream of Malian musicians and their Cuban counterparts." THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY ****star review
"The Buena Vista Social Club as it was meant to be. Lovely: meshed tropes, clever twists, new angels. Beautifully recorded and packaged."
“An album of exquisite sunshine.” EVENING STANDARD ****star review