Stockholm Jazz Festival 2: Wanlov and Ayisoba playing in the lobby (almost)

I have some poor quality footage of Wanlov and Ayisoba playing at Clarion Sign in Stockholm, but until I'm able to upload it, and perhaps also find some material from their late night jam at Fasching, here's a short clip uploaded by Pidgen Music yesterday.

Also coming up later: a brief summary of the seminar between me and Panji at the hotel.

End of Clandestino

One more review from Clandestino. Here. Main character: Mulatu Astatke. Also starring: Khaira Arby. I've actually seen her once before, sic years ago at the Festial au Desert in Essakane, outside Timbuktu. But I don't remember much of that concert. I have a vague memory of a number of female drummers and singers sitting in a semi circle on stage. Quite traditional then and a lot different from the electrified performance in Göteborg. But it might well be a totaly different concert I remember.

A new Hindhi Zara

I never really understood why everyone was raving about Hindi Zahra. Or, I think I understood why, but found it ungrounded. Now I'm not so sure. Last night she made an awesome appearance at Clandestino festival, taking a big step away from the singer/songwriter esthetics that surrounds much of her work.

More surprises, good ones, were dub step dj Uzul and after him Gnawa Diffusion founder Amazigh Kateb, who doesn't only have a  name to die for, but also have incorporated elements (and some entire songs) of chaabi and raï in his repertoire.

More of all that in tomorrow's paper. And I wont link to any of Zara's songs, the studio versions don't do her performance yesterday any justice.

Here's the review in Svenska Dagbladet.

Eagerly awaiting Panji, Pono and Ayisoba

I know this is starting to seem like a blog about Ghana. It is not. But going there last autumn left so many leads to follow up. In this specific case though, they seem to have followed me up. A few weeks ago Clara from Stockholm Jazz Festival called after reading my hiplife text and asked for people in Ghana to invite for a panel talk and perhaps a concert. Leading to record company owner and producer Panji Anoff coming to Stockholm in a week and a half for a discussion about the music industries of Africa, traditional elements in modern music or, well, whatever we decide to talk about. See us at Clarion Sign Hotel Saturday 18/6 14.00.
I also mentioned Yaa Pono, King Ayisoba and Wanlov the Kubulor and the two first ended up accompanying Panji and will play after the discussion and are also supposed to appear in some way later the same night at the jam session at jazz club Fasching.
Also playing at the festival: Bobby Womac, Chic and Seun Kuti & The Egypt 80.
Also talking: Manny & Almou Mansar, the two touareg brothers who arranges the Festival au Desert at Essakane outside Timbuktu.


And here's Yaa Pono in a video apparently shot at the Anoff villa.