World Music Percussion EnsembleHafiz Shabazz, director The Story of Rhythm: a three-part seriesMusic of the Caribbean: Islands in the Sunwith special guests Wednesday, MAY 14 • 7 pm In this third and last concert in the series, the World Music Percussion Ensemble samples the passionate island rhythms of Trinidad, Jamaica and Cuba. Calypso, originating in the African slave music of Trinidad, is entertaining and festive, but was also used as a secret code to communicate inequities and express outrage. Influenced by the French and Spanish, Calypso spread to Jamaica and other islands, forming a favorite Carnival tradition and evolving into contemporary dances like Soca and Rapso. Jamaican Reggae and Ska are also performed in this World Music concert. The delightful ringing qualities and powerful rhythms of steel drums speak of both violence and joy. After World War II, when oil barrels were left behind in Trinidad, they were taken up as objects to drum on and were ultimately transformed into the tuned pans of today, with competitions between groups replacing gang violence and becoming a major feature of Carnival. From Cuba, the sensual, rural rhythms of Rumba and the hot urban dance beats of Mambo—combinations of African and Spanish traditions—still signal hardship while celebrating the joy of island life. Special guest, Trinidad-born percussionist Ron Reid, director of Sunsteel Afro Caribbean Pan Quartet, is also the founder of Mud Hut Records and a faculty member at Berklee College of Music in Boston.
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Last updated Apr 21 2008 11:33AM | feedback
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