Posts Tagged ‘caribbean music’
Friday, February 19, 2010 8pm
“extraordinary singers…a unique and wonderful world; once you enter, you will never want to leave”
– The Guardian
Umalali means "voice"
Striking singers, African drums, electric guitars, saxophone, keyboards, bass -
an entrancing journey into the heart and soul of a unique and inspiring culture
The Music Hall truly does “bring the world to Portsmouth.” Several years ago, The Music Hall curatorial staff learned of the Garifuna – descendants of shipwrecked slaves who married Carib and Arawak Indians – who live primarily in small towns and villages on the Caribbean coasts of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. The Garifuna are renowned for creating a unique brand of music and dance blending rock, blues, funk, African, Latin and Caribbean rhythms. Their songs tell stories of their community’s struggle to survive and to retain their unique language, music and tradition in the face of globalization. The Garifuna group appearing at The Music Hall Friday February 19 at 8pm is known as Umalali – the Garifuna word for ‘voice.’ Of the Garifuna, The Guardian has said “extraordinary singers…a unique and wonderful world; once you enter, you will never want to leave.” Umalali includes three female singers, with five supporting musicians, led by the mother-daughter team of Sofia and Sylvia Blanco from Livingston, Guatemala, and Desere Diego from southern Belize.
“We have been intent on bringing them to The Music Hall,” said Executive Director Patricia Lynch. “Imagine our stage filled with striking, entrancing singers, percussionists on traditional African drums, combined with familiar Western pop instruments such as electric guitars, saxophone, keyboards and bass. It will be an evening to remember!”
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