Live Music – Oliver Mtukudzi and the Black Spirits

The Olympia Ballroom welcomes Oliver Mtukudzi and the Black Spirits with guests Sean Gaskell and Bret Ben Raven.

Only $12! Available at this link: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/424732 and at the door while supplies last.

Zimbabwe’s pride, most successful artist and national treasure, Oliver Mtukudzi is gifted with a deep and gusty voice plus a talent for writing songs that reflect on the daily life and struggles of his people. ‘Tuku’ as he is known, began performing in 1977 and has earned a devoted following across Africa and beyond, all the while incorporating elements of different musical traditions. A member of Zimbabwe’s Kore Kore tribe, he sings in the nation’s dominant Shona language as well as Ndebele and English.

Tuku’s music is heavily influenced by a humanist chimurenga ethos, which, in turn, is inspired by the hypnotic rhythms of the mbira (thumb piano). His music also incorporates South Africa mbaqanga, the energetic Zimbabwean pop style jit, and the traditional kateke drumming of his clan. One of Tuku’s biggest fans is Bonnie Raitt, who has not only called Tuku a treasure, and recorded a cover of Hear me Lord but also credits Tuku as the inspiration for the song One Belief Away on her album Fundamental.

Sean Gaskell plays traditional music of the Mandinka people on the 21 string West African Kora. The music is traditionally played by Griots (Gree-ohs, oral/musical historians). The Kora is a seemingly melodic and peaceful instrument, which is contrary it’s repertoire. Many songs tell ancient stories of war and hardship, while praising people of high political status and those who helped expand the Mande empire. While the Kora is only 300 years old, some of the songs date back as many as 800 years to the founding of the Mande empire, which took place in Mali in the mid 13th century. Sean has studied extensively under the instruction of Malamini Jobarteh and Moriba Kuyateh, both of Brikama, The Gambia. He has also studied under Kane Mathis, a Kora player formerly based in Seattle. Sean released his first solo album “Kora Music of West Africa” in March of 2012. He has been featured at a number of music festivals in Gambia and Senegal, and he has toured within the United States. Sean performs solo and also as a duo with Olympia, WA based percussionist Bret Benraven.

Tuku (along with Angelique Kidjo, Hugh Masekela and Ladysmith Black Mambazo) is one of the most successful African recordings artists in North America, having sold hundreds of thousand of records on Putumayo, Heads Up/Telarc and Sheer Sound.

Tuku is an alumni of Acoustic Africa II (2011 edition) and a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Eastern and Southern Africa, focusing on Young People’s Development and HIV
and AIDS Prevention.

2012 / 2013 marks the return to North America of one of Africa’s musical giants.