| African
Reggae in New York
New Africa Presents
Joe Black and Rascalimu
Photos by William
Farrington |
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| New Africa
Presents has showcased some of the best in live African music over the past
several years, and this Sunday was no exception. Known for their
Sunday night events that combine an opening set of African music followed by
Roots and Culture Reggae in a late night set, tonight's event featured two
New York based, up-and-coming African Reggae acts.
Joe Black, who hails
from the Cote D'Ivoire, is brother of the pioneering Ismael Isaac, who has
released several international releases to much acclaim. Joe Black has
developed a unique style that successfully bridges Reggae with traditional
West African music.
Rascalimu of Ghana
presented a scorching set of conscious lyrics that were potent in their
presentation. Sharing the same backing band, each artist achieved a
uniquely different sound for their set. |
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Joe
Black of Cote D'Ivoire |
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| Leading
Reggae Session Players based in New York |
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| Billi
Billi of Guinee is in the US on tour with Lama Sidibe, whose schedule
allowed him to sit in on tonight set to lend a piercing Fulani flute to the
Reggae stew |
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| Abou
provided some of the tightest Reggae rhythms to be found in New York. |
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| Joe Black
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| We were
pleased and surprised to witness a short set of Malian Dancehall music in
between the two Roots Reggae sets |
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| Rascalimu
stormed on stage with his song about Rasta Revolution and did not let up for
the entire scorching set that had the audience in a trance |
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| Deep bass
lines were provided |
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| Rascalimu
carried traditional Rasta themes and added rhythms from Ghana into the
musical mix. |
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| We left
the evening satisfied with the cultural experience having witnessed two of
the leading African reggae artists of the moment in the intimacy of New
York's Lion's Den. |
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