News, reviews and commentary on afrobeat and related music from Africa, The Caribbean and The Americas

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Chopteeth and Kinobe & Soul Beat Africa w/ Head-Roc


This is going to be a fantastic show!

On Saturday, November 28th, Chopteeth returns to the Black Cat in Washington, DC for a dynamic evening of African dance music. You can count on Chopteeth for explosive 1970s West African big band classics as well as critically-acclaimed original music inspired by afrobeat, highlife and African rhumba. Big horns, raging guitars and driving rhythms—there’s never a dull moment once the band's funk train starts rolling.

Kinobe and Soul Beat Africa will open the evening with its internationally-celebrated synthesis of African roots and world music. The BBC calls Kinobe "some of the most exquisite music coming out of Africa today." Traditional African instruments – koras, kalimbas, adungus, endongos, ngonis, drums – blend with guitars and keyboards, and draw on influences from around the globe. All Music Guide praises the group for its "effortless virtuosity." Kinobe and Soul Beat Africa present a scintillating new groove and an amazing performance.

Head-Roc, the Mayor of DC hip-hop, will join Chopteeth on stage for a special guest appearance, bringing his trademark blend of truth-telling and beats.

Saturday, November 28
1811 14th St NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 667-4490
9PM - $15

Chopteeth is a 14-piece Afrofunk orchestra exploring the common groove between the funkiest, most hip-shakin’ West African and American popular music. Chopteeth’s sound is a spicy stew of modern jazz, Yoruba tribal music and burning, James Brown-inspired rhythms, The band has electrified dance audiences in the Washington, DC and Baltimore region since 2004. The Washington Post described Chopteeth “a sensation” and “one of DC’s funkiest bands.” Chopteeth was featured on National Public Radio’s Weekend Edition for its “afrofunk with lunatic energy,” while Baltimore Magazine raved about Chopteeth’s “epic live shows.” The band’s debut CD was released in September 2008 and met with international critical acclaim: “thunderous and potent” (Billboard Magazine); “wonderfully fresh” (All Music Guide); “socially conscious and raucous” (All About Jazz). In February 2009, the Washington Area Music Association awarded Chopteeth its Artist of the Year Wammie Award as well as Wammie Awards for Best World Music Group, Best World Music CD and Best Debut CD. Chopteeth appears regularly at many of the top area music venues including The Kennedy Center, Strathmore, The 9:30 Club, The Black Cat and many others.

Kinobe (pronounced “Chi-No-Bé”) is an accomplished musician from Uganda whose early abilities in traditional African music quickly garnered acclaim on the world stage. Kinobe has toured the African continent for more than a decade performing with such figures in African roots music as Toumani Diabate, Youssou N’dour, Salif Keita, Angelique Kidjo, Oliver Mtukudzi, Baaba Maal, Ismael Lo, and many others. His band Soul Beat Africa is the new voice of Ugandan music. They have been bringing their energetic and highly visual show to audiences across Europe and Africa for years. These musicians represent the new vanguard of Ugandan performers, gifted instrumentalists steeped in the music of their homeland, but with ears opened to the sounds of the world at large. Driving poly-rhythms underlay transcendent melodies, touching audiences throughout the world.

For over the past 15 years Head-Roc has come to embody the passions, hopes and dreams of a wonderfully talented and all too often overlooked DC music scene. Head-Roc’s honest and relevant lyrics are a refreshing change in this current era of corporate Hip-Hop exploitation. His music has inspired many in the progressive movement to rethink Hip Hop’s potential for achieving social change and he is widely regarded as one of the key voices in this movement!

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