ARTS IN THE PARLOR 2022: Rhythms of Africa & The World

4951 Walnut St.,Philadelphia PA

11 September, 2022

Description

Zumbi Soweto and the Tyehimba African Drum & Dance Ensemble Zumbi Soweto and the Tyehimba Drum & Dance Ensemble takes us into the history and culture of Africa through West African drums, songs and dancing. He has been an artist-in-residence at the Paul Robeson House & Museum since 2001 and a mainstay in its community music programming. Soweto and the performers preserve the grand tradition of African art, dance and drumming, and remind us of the contributions of Africa to world culture. He has performed and taught African history, music and culture at schools, concert halls and other venues across the Philadelphia area. He plays traditional West African drums, including djembe, songba, kekenee, balafon and kalimba, as well as sekere and agogo bells. Bert Harris, bassistBert Harris has performed world beat, jazz and blues for more than 40 years. He and his band primarily play jazz from Africa, especially the music of South African jazz composers. They perform the music of pianist/composer Abdullah Ibrahim (Dollar Brand), singer/composer/trumpeter Hugh Masekela, saxophonist Winston Mankunku Ngozi, pianist Bheki Mseleku and pianist/composer Ibrahim Khalil Shihab. Harris leads his own ensemble, Jazz Planet, and is bassist for Philly Gumbo, the funk, blues and reggae dance band whose sound is straight out of New Orleans. He also performs with the Melange Jazz Collective, the Dubway Reggae Band and RK$TDY (Rocksteady). He has performed with Sun-Ra Arkestra, Bo Didley, South African singer Sharon Katz, Brazilian singer-percussionist Xande Cruz, rhythm-and-blues singer Lisa Chavous and guitarist Teddy Royal of the Fats Domino Band. “Music that makes you move is always my biggest influence,” says Harris, who cites James Brown as one of his influences. “It’s why I love African music, NOLA music and Latin music. The African sound diaspora is my biggest influence.”